Palestinian graduate aims to empower Muslim women as she pursues dream of becoming a detective

A Palestinian woman who came to the UK as an asylum seeker, graduates today from Leeds Trinity University, aiming to empower Muslim women and challenge stereotypes, as she pursues her dream of joining the police as a detective.

- 

Hadil Khalil, who is graduating with a first-class degree in Criminology, has shown resilience and determination in overcoming the barriers that prevented her from accessing higher education. Having faced uncertainty for many years, Hadil secured a sanctuary scholarship at Leeds Trinity, which is one of 80 higher education institutions in the UK (out of over 260) that offer financial aid for students who are refugees, asylum seekers or have limited leave to remain in the country.

Hadil explained: "When I first arrived in this country, I didn't speak a single word of English. Being an asylum seeker comes with a weight that is hard to describe. I faced discrimination, experienced racism, received threats, and lived in constant fear. And on top of that, there were so many barriers that controlled my life, my opportunities, and my future, including going into university."

Despite her limited university options, Hadil found at Leeds Trinity an environment where she could reach her potential, believe in herself, and achieve her goals.