One of the Palestinian artists invited to the Edinburgh Fringe has been denied a travel visa by the UK.
Hamde Abu Rahme, a photojournalist, will now not be able to attend the festival as part of the Welcome to the Fringe events, a new series of events founded by the leading playwright David Greig.
The photographer, an activist who is the author of the photobook Roots Run Deep - Life in Occupied Palestine, was denied access to the UK on several grounds by UK Visas and Immigration.
The photographer, from Bil'in near Ramallah, will now not be able to take part in the Welcome to the Fringe: Palestine events at the Forest Fringe venue on August 23 or attend an exhibition of his work.
Mr Abu Rahma said it is the first time he has been refused an entry visa to any country.
After the exhibition he was due to visit other cities, promote his work and his book.
Welcome to the Fringe was inspired by the controversy over an Israeli show at the Underbelly venue last year.
Greig established the fundraising campaign to raise £10,000 to bring a dozen artists to the Fringe from Palestine to appear at two venues.
The Network of Photographers for Palestine initially, and separately, had raised money through crowdfunding to finance Mr Abu Rahma's visit earlier this year.
However, learning of the Welcome to the Fringe, the Network suggested he take part in the events, which organisers Greig and Henry Bell agreed to and formally invited him to take part.
Mr Abu Rahma was due to talk about photography in conflict zones on August 23 at the Forest Fringe.
Today he said: "After more than 3 months of organising and planning for my trip to the UK on a speaking tour of England and Scotland to participate in this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival my application for a visa has been refused.
"The major art's festival invited me to show my photographs which represent the non-violent resistance and my talk about Palestinian life to the British audience.
"The UK government refused to give me a visa today and the reason for refusal was that I didn't show any bank statements or documentation to demonstrate my ability to support myself during my visit.
"Despite sending complete evidence of the sponsorship provided to fund my trip and all contact details of my sponsors proving that all my travel and accommodation costs have been met they still refused my application.
"I have travelled extensively in order to tell the Palestinian story through my photographs but the UK is the first country that has refused me entry for a ridiculous and unfounded reason."
The letter of refusal states that Mr Abu Rahma did not provide enough financial information or evidence that he would leave the UK after the festival.
It said: "You have not shown that you re meeting you daily living costs and other financial obligations.
"I'm not satisfied that you are a genuine visitor. I consider that you do not have strong enough economic or social ties to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to satisfy me that you intend to leave the UK."
Mr Abu Rahma added: "We all know the real reason for this refusal. The UK know very well what my trip is about.
"I am not going there to claim asylum or beg in the streets. I am going there to educate the British people and pose some questions...the visa issuing authority didn't find any criminal evidence against me to cite as their reason for refusal.
"I am deeply disappointed that I can not travel to the UK this time but I would like to thank all my friends in the UK for their support and for being willing to host me in their homes."
Phil Chetwynd, Scottish organiser of the Network, said the reasons for the visa refusal are "extremely trivial".
They include a series of financial information demands as well as stating that the authority is not convinced Mr Abu Rahma would leave the UK at the end of his visit.
"It seems they have come up with every reason to block the visa," Mr Chetwynd said.
"The stuff about him not leaving is extraordinary - he is devoted to his family and has travelled in Europe before."
Mr Abu Rahma's pictures will still be shown as part of the events.
It is also hoped that he can attend planned meeting in Inverness and Dundee through Skype, rather than in person.
Hamde Abu Rahme's show will be at the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Dalmeny St. Edinburgh from August 22.
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