Award-winning Poet, Soukaina Habiballah, Denied Entry to UK

That the Parliament condemns the UK Government’s reported decision to deny Soukaina Habiballah entry to the UK; understands that Ms Habiballah, an award-winning poet from Morocco, was due to appear at StAnza, Scotland’s International Poetry Festival, taking place between 8 and 10 March 2024; considers that Ms Habiballah is a renowned Arabic poet with a considerable body of work, which has been translated into several languages, and that she has performed her poetry across the world; understands that Ms Habiballah provided all of the required paperwork, which, it believes, renders incomprehensible the Home Office’s reported decision to consider her a potential illegal immigrant whilst giving a public performance at an international poetry festival; believes that the UK’s immigration regime has inflicted huge damage to every sector of Scottish society, and has caused significant obstacles for performing artists; considers that this decision from the Home Office marks the latest display of contempt for the culture sector, and that it will harm Scotland’s ability to attract international artists, and urges the UK Government to reverse what it sees as this outrageous decision and to play its role in supporting arts and culture to thrive.