Belgian migration minister blocks entry of 13 Gaza scholars, cites domino effect
Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt says Belgium should not admit 13 Palestinian students with scholarships and visas, warning they could trigger family reunification and asylum claims.
Belgium’s asylum and migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt has publicly opposed the entry of 13 Palestinian students from Gaza who have secured scholarships and visas to study in the country. The students, some waiting two years, were invited by the University of Antwerp, whose rector Herwig Leirs said the only barrier is political will. Van Bossuyt warned that admitting the group could set a precedent, leading to family reunification requests or asylum applications, describing it as a potential domino effect.
She also asked why comparable opportunities are not extended to applicants from Yemen, Sudan or Afghanistan. The international development umbrella organisation 11.11.11 expressed disappointment, emphasizing that the students possess a legitimate right to enter Belgium. The government has yet to decide, leaving the scholars in limbo.
