Mundell urged to help secure visa for Moroccan artist’s festival debut

The Scottish Secretary has been urged to intervene in the case of a Moroccan storyteller who was denied a visa to the UK despite his key role in a prominent book festival.

Mehdi El Ghaly was due to be one of the artists in residence at the Wigtown Book Festival in Dumfries and Galloway this weekend, but was refused a travel visa by the Home Office.

Officials raised fears that the performance artist, who is based in Marrakech, would try to stay in the UK after the event, it is understood.

The artistic director of the festival hit out at the decision, 0 The festival is appealing to Scots Secretary David Mundell claiming it compromised Scotland’s reputation as a centre for “intellectual openness”.

The festival is now appealing to Scottish Secretary David Mundell and Alister Jack, the Conservative MPS who represent the area, to intervene on Mr El Ghaly’s behalf.

“It is disappointing and frustrating that a respected young storyteller involved in a longrunning arts project designed to bring peoples together should be denied a visa to attend an international festival,” said Adrian Turpin, the festival’s artistic director. “Wigtown Book Festival involves writers, journalists, academics, artists and visitors from all over the world and is an award-winning showcase.”

Mr El Ghaly has been working with photographer Houssain Belabbes on a collaborative project with two Scottish artists.