‘Draconian’ immigration blasted
A Syrian GP has eventually been allowed to work in Wishaw following a battle with the Home Office.
Dr Ghaith Rukbi’s sponsor, Wishaw GP Dr Alec Logan, notified his local MP in Motherwell and Wishaw, Marion Fellows, after Dr Rukbi was denied his visa to the UK by the Home Office.
He says that Dr Rukbi has been highly commended by Professors at the American University of Beirut Medical Centre in Lebanon, – one of the most prestigious medical universities in the region.
Dr Logan has hosted two GPs from the same university in the past, but they had no issues gaining their visa. Dr Rukbi’s application was very similar to the previous applicants who visited on the four- week programme. However, both were Lebanese and not Syrian.
Dr Logan, Dr Rukbi and Mrs Fellows feared that Syrian nationals were being blacklisted by the Home Office following the refugee crisis in Syria.
But Mrs Fellows intervened to help Dr Rukbi to get a visa to help a further 60 Syrians settle in the area later this year.
Following a question in Parliament, Mrs Fellows met with Immigration Minister, Robert Goodwill MP.
After her intervention the Home Office agreed to reconsider Dr Rukbi’s case and he was finally allowed to come to Scotland.
Mrs Fellows said: “I am absolutely thrilled that Ghaith was finally able to come to Scotland to learn from our NHS and pass on his own skills which will be invaluable when the new refugees arrive.
“If we are serious about accommodating refugees while they are here, we have to make sure we have the full skills and understanding of how to provide primary care to people from such extraordinary circumstances.
“The Home Office’s reasoning for barring Dr Rukbi from entering the UK was utterly ridiculous. It seems to be every other day that there is a new case where someone is being unjustly barred entry or being deported by the Home Office. In the case of Dr Rukbi, it is clear to see the detrimental effects the Home Office’s draconian immigration obsession can have.
“Scotland is a welcoming nation and we certainly welcome the talents and expertise that someone like Dr Rukbi can pass