Home Office forced to grant visas to Afghan Youth Orchestra following backlash
The British Home Office has been forced to go back on its decision to deny visas to 47 young Afghan musicians. Members of the Afghan Youth Orchestra were denied visas only days before they were due to embark on their ‘Breaking the Silence’ tour.
Showcasing the talent of young musicians in Afghanistan, the orchestra was exiled from their home nation following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Under the Taliban, the performance of music is outlawed, as is the education of young women.
Now living in Portugal, away from the oppressive rule of the Taliban, the orchestra was set to perform across four cities in England before being denied visas by the Home Office. Following the backlash against that decision, the Home Office has performed a U-turn, granting visas to the 47 young musicians.
According to the Home Office, the initial refusal of visa applications came from the information the orchestra provided about the student status of some of the members, which was deemed too vague.
Dr Ahmad Sarmast, the orchestra’s director, said, according to The Guardian, “We have played all over the world since we left [Afghanistan] but we never faced this.”
The orchestra’s first performance in England was due to take place tomorrow at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at London’s Southbank. Following the Home Office U-turn, the Southbank Centre released a statement, saying, “The disruption has impacted the Afghan Youth Orchestra’s original travel plans and delayed their arrival in the UK”, adding that they are “working closely” with promoters to see whether the show can still go ahead, as planned, tomorrow evening.
Over the past few years, the Home Office has been repeatedly criticised for denying visas to POC artists. In 2023, an investigation by The Voice found that the Home Office was disproportionately targeting Afrobeat artists, refusing them entry into the UK.
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