A Home Office decision to grant a visa to a Syrian journalist who risked his life to report on the conflict in his country for British television has been welcomed by his colleagues and members of the public.
Humam Husari, 32, was refused an entry visa to attend the prestigious Rory Peck awards after he was shortlisted for his films.
After a public outcry, Husari, who has worked for ITV News since 2012 and filmed the aftermath of chemical attacks, will now be allowed to attend the ceremony. The Home Office initially rejected his visit because, it said, there was a risk he would not leave the country.
The U-turn came after ITV News provided documentary evidence to show that Husari has a year’s rent for his accommodation in Turkey paid upfront. The organisation also showed that he had been offered a job in Turkey, where his wife is enrolled at university.
ITV News submitted two visa applications on his behalf, promising to book return flights and accompany him during his visit. John Hardie, ITN’s chief executive of ITN, even wrote a personal letter of support.
After the news broke, Husari tweeted:
Good News: My visit to the UK has just been approved! My deep thanks to everyone how spent an effort to make this happen.
— Humam Husari (@HumamHusari) October 26, 2018
Colleagues at ITV also expressed their support:
Delighted to say that we WILL be seeing our colleague @HumamHusari in London next week for the @rorypecktrust awards after all. Thanks to @sajidjavid & @ukhomeoffice for granting his visa. A happy way to end the week. https://t.co/1QnLcI4yru
— Laura Brander (@laurabrander) October 26, 2018
And this weekend after many can finally be a relaxed one @HumamHusari 😊
— roo h (@rooITV) October 27, 2018
Husari lived among families taking refuge from the shelling in underground tunnels in a rural and suburban area near Damascus. Millions in Britain have seen his reports and video diaries on ITV’s nightly news programme.
He managed to escape Syria with his wife a few months ago and now lives with his extended family in Turkey. He was shortlisted for a Rory Peck award in recognition of his journalism in eastern Ghouta.
“In Humam’s work you get a sense of the hidden story that none of us really knew about, the tunnels and what it’s like to live underground, the only place people could take shelter,” the judges wrote in their citation.
The awards celebrate freelancers who have risked their lives to produce powerful reporting.
Both ITV News and the Rory Peck Trust had urged the Home Office to grant a last-minute visa on Friday night. The original decision to bar his entry was widely criticised:
ITV News filmmaker whose “extraordinary eyewitness journalism” from Ghouta is nominated for one of the industry’s top awards, is barred from the UK so can’t attend next week’s ceremony. Officials think there’s a chance he won’t leave (there’s no chance) https://t.co/qWgAgLHc2V
— Rohit Kachroo (@RohitKachrooITV) October 26, 2018
The awards ceremony, hosted by Sky’s Alex Crawford and the BBC’s Jeremy Bowen, will take place at the BFI Southbank on Thursday night.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We have reviewed Mr [Husari]’s case and he will be issued with a visa on 27 October.”
