Organisers of Ledbury Poetry Festival were left red-faced last week when three guest poets fell victim to the UK’s tightened immigration policy.
Indonesian Dorothea Rosa Herliany failed to appear at the festival after UK Border Officials denied her Visa application.
Also unable to enter the country were Moroccans Widad Benmoussa and Hassan Najmi after complications surrounding their visit arose.
Border officials said they were not satisfied that Ms Herliany was a ‘genuine visitor’, while Hassan Najm and Widad Benmoussa were asked to attend interviews, preventing them travelling on to Ledbury.
Poetry Festival officials appealed against the decision affecting Ms Herliany, but her visa was granted a day after she was due to appear.
“I’m devastated, this is hugely embarrassing for the festival,” said festival director Chloe Garner. “These regulations make it almost impossible to for us to programme international poets. I feel ashamed that the UK is effectively becoming a fortress.”
The incidents are a result of stringent Visa restrictions imposed by the Home Office in November last year, which have made it difficult for artists and academics outside the EU to come into the UK.
“Ledbury Poetry Festival has in the past welcomed poets from all over the world,” added Chloe “This is the first time poets coming from outside the EU have had any difficulty in appearing. The consequences of these new restrictions are catastrophic for Ledbury Poetry Festival.”
A spokesperson for the UK Border Agency said “The onus is on applicants to supply the necessary evidence in support of their applications.”