Mandla Mandela, the grandson of South Africa’s inaugural Black president, Nelson Mandela, revealed on Friday that his visa application to the United Kingdom was rejected due to his pro-Hamas sentiments and views on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Earlier this month, he intended to travel to the U.K. to speak at pro-Palestinian events set to occur in cities such as Manchester, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. However, despite holding a South African government passport typically exempt from visa requirements, he was informed that a visa was still needed.
This week, the U.K. Home Office communicated to Mandela through a letter that his visa request had been denied based on his perceived “support for Hamas,” asserting that his presence would not serve the public good.
Mandela mentioned he received this letter, which was dated October 21, on Thursday. The correspondence outlined that his presence was deemed a risk to public welfare because of his “unacceptable behavior.” The document referenced multiple statements where he reportedly expressed support for Hamas and lauded the recent attacks on Israel, particularly the October 7 incident, along with tributes to Ismail Haniyeh, who had recently died.
The letter highlighted various Instagram posts where Mandela showcased his solidarity with Hamas and the Palestinian cause, including an image with Haniyeh, who lost his life in an airstrike earlier this year. It also noted Mandela’s attendance at Haniyeh’s funeral in August, alongside meetings with him in January and April, as well as a photograph with prominent Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal.
The Home Office maintained that Mandela’s entry would likely exacerbate tensions within Jewish communities in the U.K. and, for the safety and order of society, it was vital to reject his visa application. No immediate comments from the Home Office were available following a request for clarification.
Despite this setback, Mandela asserted that the refusal would not silence his advocacy for the Palestinian people. He emphasized, “We can never be silenced, and we will not allow this visa denial to obstruct our quest for justice, peace, and equality. We will persist in voicing our concerns against the injustices, genocide, and ethnic cleansing occurring in Gaza and throughout Occupied Palestine, particularly as endorsed by the U.K. and similar entities.”
Mandela described the visa denial as an infringement on his freedom of movement and expression, drawing parallels to the struggles faced by his grandfather, who endured 27 years of imprisonment for fighting against apartheid. Nelson Mandela was pivotal in dismantling the racist policies of the white minority government, which ultimately led to his election as South Africa’s first democratic leader in 1994.
He remarked, “My grandfather also had his movement restricted, yet he defied conditions that limited his release to only the Transkei. He was unwavering in his pursuit of justice and became an enduring symbol of freedom, justice, and human rights for all.”
Various pro-Palestinian groups, including the Desmond Tutu Foundation in South Africa and the Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid in the U.K., have decried the U.K.’s decision as unjust.