Rally of support for trapped student Khaled Mudalla to coincide with his Supreme Court hearing tomorrow in Israel.
Tomorrow (2nd October) at Bradford University, outside the Atrium, 1pm – 2pm
A Palestinian student urgently trying to get back to Bradford University to start his third year of study, has found him self unable to do so after Israel identified Gaza as “hostile territory” this week, effectively closing it off to the outside world and in the process creating the world’s largest open air prison.
Khaled Mudallal, 22, a British-educated business and management student who risks losing his third year if he does not return to Bradford next week, has become its latest inmate.
The Israeli human rights organisation Gisha, is presenting a petition to the Israeli Supreme Court arguing that new restrictions which have so far prevented approximately 300 Palestinian students from Gaza to return to courses abroad is a violation of international law.
The rally will be attended by friends of Khaled, his lecturers and students’ unions throughout the UK.
NUS calls for Palestinian student Khaled Al-Mudallal’s right to education. (28.9.7)
Israeli government must allow Khaled to return to Britain to finish his degree.
The National Union of Students (NUS) has today (28th September) written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown calling on him to ensure his Israeli counterpart allows Khaled Al-Mudallal, a Palestinian and a business and management student at the University of Bradford, to leave Gaza so that he may complete his degree.
Khaled is currently trapped in Gaza due to the restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by the Israeli government on Palestinians living in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These restrictions were introduced following the declaration that Gaza was a ‘hostile territory’.
Khaled needs to return to Bradford urgently to begin the third year of his degree course. He has a British residence permit valid until November 2010.
NUS President, Gemma Tumelty said:
‘The Prime Minister should call on the Israeli government to allow Khaled Al-Mudallal to leave Gaza immediately. The right to education is a human right as stated in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The right for students to study freely and safely across the world must be defended. Education will be central to finding a peaceful resolution in the Middle East.”
NUS National Black Students’ Officer said:
‘Khaled, along with hundreds of other students, is currently unable to leave Gaza to begin the new academic year. Students in Britain have a responsibility to support them by calling on our government to join us in insisting that students in Palestine are allowed to complete their studies.’
