The Home Office has refused to give young Afghan musicians visas to fly to the UK from Portugal, it has been reported.
The Afghan Youth Orchestra was due to travel to the UK to begin their UK tour at the Queen Elizabeth Hall at the Southbank Centre on Thursday.
The group are currently in exile in Lisbon and was due to also perform their “Breaking the Silence” tour in Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham to raise awareness of the plight of Afghan women and girls.
According to the Southbank Centre, the group is made up of musicians aged between 14 and 20.
The orchestra was forced into exile When Taliban militants returned to power in 2021. The Taliban have banned music in Afghanistan.
The group has been invited to perform in various European cities including Geneva and Bonn.
A Southbank Centre spokesperson, said: "We're extremely disappointed that the Afghan Youth Orchestra has had its visas denied, which impacts its upcoming UK tour Breaking The Silence, including a performance at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall planned for Thursday.
“The orchestra is a beacon of hope and free creative expression: its brave young people have been forced to leave their homeland because of a repressive regime and they have found a home in Portugal, where they have refugee status.
“This decision denies UK audiences the opportunity of being inspired by their brave work and they deserve the full support of the Arts community as well as the UK government. We urge the Home Office to reconsider its decision."
A Home Office spokesperson said: “Musicians and performers are a valued and important part of UK culture.
“Applications have to be considered on their individual merits in accordance with the immigration rules with the responsibility on applicants to demonstrate they meet these rules.”
