Afghan Youth Orchestra (AYO) will now be allowed to perform in UK after Home Office reversed its decision to deny group visas for entry. AYO was due to perform at Southbank Centre in London on Thursday as part of its Breaking Silence tour and venue’s ‘South Asian Sounds’ festival, before going on to perform concerts in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.

Sama Arts Network, which organised tour confirmed that Home Office had U-turned on its decision to deny AYO entry visas.

Sama artistic director Jay Visvadeva told BBC Radio 4’s The World Tonight programme, “Good news has travelled to me from Portugal that Home Office has finally seen light of day.”

Dr Ahmad Sarmast, head of ANIM said he was “Delighted” to learn of U-turn, adding, “New decision of Home Office will enable members of AYO not only to share beauty of Afghan music with audiences in four

Published in The Daily National Courier, March, 07 2024

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.