Iranian illustrator Ehasan Abdollahi will come to the Edinburgh International Book Festival following a Home Office change of heart.
The news has been welcomed by Edinburgh North and Leith MP Dierdre Brock, who said: “I’m thrilled to learn that Ehsan Abdollahi will be able to come to Edinburgh after all. I hope his events sell-out and many children get to exchange ideas and learn from this talented Iranian artist.
“This u-turn shows the Home Office can be persuaded to do the right thing sometimes and we need to get them to do it all the time. People should not have to go through this kind of stressful process just to take part in our international festivals. We need a root-and-branch review of a visa system that upsets lives, is damaging to our creative industries and to international relations.
“I’m grateful to the Ambassador in Tehran for his intervention as well as the hard work done behind the scenes by the Festival Director Nick Barley and Tiny Owl Publishing.
“The support for this campaign was heartwarming and the result sends a message that Edinburgh continues to welcome the world in August.”
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