Skip to main content

Petitioning Home Office (UK), Amber Rudd MP
Give Syrian refugee Ibrahim Keivo a visa to perform at our music festival
 
 
 

Petition by Priya Mitchell Oxford, UK

2,851 Supporters

 
 
 
 
 
My friend Ibrahim Keivo is a highly regarded Syrian musician who was due to perform at our Oxford Chamber Music Festival.
But the Home Office refused his 5-day visa and we are now devastated that he cannot join us. That is why I’m calling on the Home Office to allow him into the UK for only 5 days. We only have two weeks! 
Ibrahim is a Syrian refugee who was granted asylum in Germany two years ago where he works and lives with his family. He has impeccable references and has been invited by the world famous musician Jordi Savall to tour Europe this year.
As the Artistic Director of the Festival, I can say that everyone involved was honoured and excited to announce Ibrahim's participation. We have been very much looking forward to welcoming him in the UK.
The Home Office has given the feeble excuse that he hasn't a special skill in its refusal to grant the visa. He is scheduled to sing and play his stringed instrument, the Oud, in concert, but importantly is also going to be part of an educational programme for children and young people in Oxford.
We have fulfilled all requirements demanded by the Home Office in detail and with plenty of time to spare- a painstaking and expensive procedure. Everybody connected with the festival is shocked by the Home Office’s decision to decline his visa. 
Being forced to leave his home and losing everything was hard enough. To be refused the opportunity to share his art with us all is simply cruel.
It is particularly troubling as my festival has a long tradition of inviting international artists from many different parts of the world. I have never had to cancel an invitation on the grounds that a musician is not welcome in the UK.
Music is a universal language that brings people of every culture, religion, creed, heritage or background closer together and we still hope that Ibrahim Keivo will be granted a visa in time and will feel as welcomed in this country as he should be. I can't understand what possible threat he might pose by coming to play in Oxford for a few days.  
Writer Philip Pullman has called the decision a "disgrace.” Councillor Susanna Pressel is trying to help us.
Please sign this petition, and hopefully we can welcome Ibrahim!
 
 
 
 
 

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Message on that page from Ibrahim Keivo:
I am very happy to have been invited to the Oxford Chamber Music Festival and am so grateful for all the warm support that has been shown to me since my visa was rejected. It would have been an honour for me to perform some of the oldest songs of Syrian folklore for the audience in the UK. I am really heavyhearted that I wasn’t granted a 5 day visa. I fulfilled all the necessary actions and provided all the paperwork that the British Consulate in Düsseldorf asked me to. It is the first time that this happened and I had been touring throughout Europe since 2002 and invited to countless concerts and festivals. I was given humanitarian asylum in Germany where I’ve been living with my family for almost 3 years now and have absolutely no intention to stay in Britain. All I want is to present my music in this beautiful country.

 

6,829 supporters to date

El Loro

Add Reply

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×