Renowned Arabic poet Soukaina Habiballah will appear at the St Andrews Poetry Festival this weekend after the Home Office u-turned on a visa refusal.
The 34-year-old from Morocco was forced to cancel Sunday’s StAnza appearance when the UK Government claimed she was a potential illegal immigrant.
However, in an update, the Home Office has now granted the document after “further information was provided”.
A spokesperson said: “After further information was provided this visa has now been granted.
“Applications must be considered on their individual merits, based on the information provided and in accordance with the immigration rules.”
Ms Habiballa has won several awards for her work, which has been translated into various languages.
And her appearance at the Byre Theatre marks the beginning of her first UK poetry tour.
StAnza artistic director Ryan Van Winkle branded the original decision “insulting and humiliating”.
And Ms Habiballa said it was “a painful oversight” following numerous visits to other western countries.
Home Office ‘consider her a potential illegal immigrant’
In a statement on X, Mr Van Winkle said the ruling was beyond his comprehension.
He added: “We are heartbroken for Soukaina Habiballa and deeply disappointed by the UK Government’s refusal to grant her a visa.”
“Their scepticism regarding why an artist of her calibre would leave her family, home and networks to illegally move to the UK is beyond our comprehension.
“It’s insulting and humiliating to see acclaimed artists like Soukaina face such obstacles.”
Mr Van Winkle said Ms Habiballa had submitted all required paperwork, including around 35 official documents.
She also provided proof of her status as a leading Arabic poet, both in Morocco and internationally.
Following the u-turn, he said: “StAnza and Soukaina are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming attention this issue has received from people across social media, MPs, and fellow cultural organisations nationwide.
“The outpouring of public pressure has been instrumental in achieving this remarkable outcome, and we are heartened by it.”
Scottish Government said decision was ‘appalling’
The Scottish Government’s culture secretary Angus Robertson described the previous decision as “appalling”.
He said: “Too often Scottish festivals and cultural events are let down by the UK Home Office, who block the participation of international performers.
“I have already met with the UK Government to discuss this problem, but it still persists.
“The Home Office and Scotland Office need to get their act together and get this sorted.”
And North East Fife Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain also expressed disappointment, saying it spread “harmful rhetoric”.
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