A SCOTTISH campaign group has raised fears that Nelson Mandela’s grandson has been “prevented” from entering the UK to deliver talks on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as a result of his stance on Gaza.
The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) had organised a series of talks over the last week with Mandla Mandela (below), the grandson of the former South African president who led the fight against apartheid.
SPSC have raised concerns that Mandela’s visa was intentionally delayed by the UK Government as a result of his opposition to Israel and his support for South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
In January, South Africa launched a case at the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, asking the court to order Israel to halt its attack.
The ICJ ruled that Israel needed to take all measures within its powers to prevent a genocide from taking place in Gaza, although it stopped short of calling for a ceasefire.
The UK Government has denied Mandela was blocked for his support of the case, telling the SPSC that the delay is “purely administrative”.
It comes as the group’s Aberdeen meeting was moved on Monday after a last-minute venue cancellation by Aberdeen University.
Scottish Greens MSP for North East Scotland, Maggie Chapman, accused Aberdeen University of “shamefully prevent[ing] the event going ahead in a uni[versity] building”, although the university has not yet responded to these claims.
He said: “By closing the doors on us today, as activists and peace and freedom – loving people of the world, you have shown us that you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
“The march to freedom cannot be cancelled … freedom will prevail!” Powerful words from Mandla Mandela speaking to Aberdeen anti-apartheid campaigners gathered on Elphinstone Lawn, because @aberdeenuni shamefully prevented the event going ahead in a uni building#FreePalestine pic.twitter.com/L1T4UyPVbq
— Maggie Chapman MSP (@MaggieChapman) October 14, 2024
A spokesperson for SPSC told The National: “SPSC initially planned Mandela's speaking tour to include four Scottish cities but it expanded to include four English cities and Dublin.
“We invited Nelson Mandela's grandson to explain and discuss South Africa's prosecution of Israel in the International Court of Justice for the crime of genocide.
“Mandla Mandela was not just invited here because of the symbolic link with his iconic grandfather. He is a powerful speaker and internationally significant in his own right.
“Mandela has travelled the world unimpeded – he was previously given a 10-year visa for the UK – but highly questionable delays in the issuance of a fresh UK visa, however, have prevented Mandela from coming in person for this speaking tour.”
The spokesperson continued: “The UK Government has claimed this is due to unavoidable administrative delays. Before too long, though, the Government will need to make a decision on whether or not to issue him with a fresh visa.
“We very much hope that they will do so, in which case an in person speaking tour by Mandela will quickly follow.
“We fear however a refusal to issue a visa on grounds related to his support for the South African case to the ICJ and his general opposition to Israel's devastation of Palestine and now Lebanon.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “The UK considers a wide range of information when assessing the suitability of visa applicants, across a range of issues where it would be appropriate to refuse a visa.
“This forms part of our robust safeguards in protecting the security of the UK border.”
A spokesperson for Aberdeen University said: “The university supports and promotes the rights of all members of our community to have a voice.
“We also reserve the right to cancel or refuse bookings where appropriate and in line with our policies.”
