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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Robert Booth and Nadeem Badshah

Outcry forces Home Office to allow Afghan youth orchestra to go on England tour

Taliban England the Home Office United Kingdom London Afghanistan Kabul
Ahmad Sarmast speaking to members of the Zohra orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, in Kabul, Afghanistan
Ahmad Sarmast speaking to members of the Zohra orchestra, an ensemble of 35 women, in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2016. The Taliban introduced severe restrictions on people playing musical instruments. Photograph: Reuters/Alamy

The Home Office has been forced into a U-turn and has now granted visas to the Afghan youth orchestra for their tour of England, after its earlier refusal threw their planned tour into chaos days before it was due to begin.

The band of 47 exiled musicians aged between 14 and 22 had been working for months on their repertoire for the shows, which are due to start at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London on Thursday.

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