Border Agency accused of harming London's world music reputation with visa clampdown

 
“Problem”: Sachal Jazz Ensemble of Pakistan had to cancel King’s Cross concerts
Anna Dubuis|Louise Jury2 December 2013

The UK Border Agency was today accused of damaging London’s reputation for world music with a “heavy-handed” visa clampdown.

Music promoter Jay Visvadeva had to cancel two performances by the renowned Pakistani group Sachal Jazz Ensemble at Kings Place in King’s Cross last week.

The six musicians performed in London in April last year and at the Lincoln Center in New York last month. But when they applied for UK visas this year, only five were granted.“We are finding it very difficult to obtain visas. I haven’t faced these delays before, this has been the worst,” Mr Visvadeva said.

“Six professional musicians who travel the world constantly should have a clean application. We had no issues with visas last year. The Border Agency are the culprits. They are heavy-handed especially with people from the Indian subcontinent.”

Another group, Ensemble Al-Kindi, whose members come from Turkey and Syria, had to pull out of a performance at the Rich Mix centre in Shoreditch and a major event in Cardiff in October after five musicians were refused entry.

Manager Sabine Chatel said the Home Office refused to issue visas amid doubts the musicians would leave the UK afterwards. But they all received a Schengen visa from French authorities which permits travel within 25 other countries in Europe.

Aser El Saqqa of the Shoreditch event’s organiser, Arts Canteen, said the cancellation was sad as the group’s music was part of a tradition increasingly under threat in war-torn Syria.

Simon Broughton, editor of world mus ic magazine Songlines, said visa issues were making promoters reluctant to book musicians from certain countries. “I don’t know whether something has changed at the Border Agency but it has become a problem recently,” he said.

“Great musicians who are very well known in their own fields are not getting into this country, where there is an audience for them. Much of the music is a fantastic way of correcting the image of Islam as sombre and strict, but the musicians can’t get into the country. It doesn’t help the understanding of these cultures.”

Tougher criteria for visas were introduced five years ago. Some education and arts bosses believe they are damaging London’s international standing.

A Home Office spokesman said: “All visa applications are considered on their individual merits and in line with immigration rules.”

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