LONDON: An Afghan human rights activist who survived the Taliban and rebuilt her education after fleeing Afghanistan has been prevented from going to the UK to take up a place at Oxford University.
Aisha Khurram, 27, from Kabul, was offered a place on a master’s course in diplomatic studies at Oxford in May, two months after the UK government introduced an “emergency brake” on visas for nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Cameroon and Sudan.
Khurram is among 15 Afghans offered places at Oxford this academic year, according to freedom of information data cited by The Independent, with many expected to be unable to begin their studies because of the visa restrictions.
“I survived the Taliban. I survived displacement. I had to rebuild my education and I had to get an offer from one of the most prestigious universities in the world,” Khurram told The Independent.
She said that she was ultimately prevented from taking up the opportunity because she held an Afghan passport.
