Give Murad's parents a visit visa to the UK

My name is Abdelrahman Murad and I am a 27-year-old from Gaza. I managed to leave the city in October 2014 in order to take part in a five week training course at the United Nations in New York. One year later I qualified for a scholarship to pursue a master’s degree in the UK. I graduated in February 2017 and my graduation ceremony will be held in July (2017), for which I desperately want my parents living back in Gaza to attend. To my dismay, the UK embassy has refused to grant them a visa to visit, assuming they may not return. In reality they have no interest in a long stay. My father has a family to take care of and a business to run. Please, if you can, help me and my parents meet up for this special occasion after nearly three years of not seeing one another.

In nearly a decade, exiting and entering Gaza has been difficult, if not impossible, for its two million residents. This poses a particular challenge for students looking forward for a better education.

My case was no exception. I made it through the Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s only gateway to the world which opens only several times a month, after two failed attempts in a week. Desperate, I did not have the chance to say goodbye to my family on the day of departure. I only just made it . I wrote more about this experience, which you can read on my personal website. See:
https://palbigwindow.wordpress.com/2015/10/16/one-year-on-noose-of-rafah-border-still-tightened-on-gazans/

In February 2017, I graduated from the University of the Arts London with an MA in Media Communications and Critical Practice. My graduation ceremony is due for 28 July 2017. In April 2017, I began work in the field of communications at the London Centre of International Law Practice (LCILP). Because of the unreliability of the Rafah border and the risk of being stranded inside, I opted to not take a break from my studies or work to travel back and see my family.

I am writing to ask for your kind support of my petition to the UK Embassy in Jordan, which calls upon them to give my parents a visa to attend my graduation ceremony in London. I have already asked my parents to file a new visa application, after the first was refused.

The visa application was refused despite being well supported by documents. I even advised my parents to attach documents providing proof of their intention to return to Gaza. I bore in mind the unmeritable humanitarian and economic situation of Gaza. I believed it is enough reason for visit visas to be refused, let alone the having the infamous Palestinian passport.

Whilst I felt let down by their decision, and have even at times considered giving up and simply not attending my graduation, I have now decided to make a challenge. Their explanation simply has no substance, and is based on the unfair judgment that my parents intend to remain in the United Kingdom beyond the expiry of their visa.

Here is the explanation put up by the embassy:

“You have not shown from the supporting documents you have any family members living in your country of residence or other countries and therefore consider you have very little in the way of ties to provide you with enough incentive to leave the UK on completion of your proposed visit”

With your support, I hope to see my mum and dad soon.
To read the response from the UK Embassy, please see the original document below: