The UK Home Office has reportedly denied visas to all Palestinian artists invited to perform at ‘Voices of Solidarity II,’ a major Nakba commemoration event planned for London. The decision forced organisers to postpone the event, raising serious concerns about censorship, freedom of expression, and the silencing of Palestinian cultural voices.
The event, organised by Health Workers for Palestine, MARSM, and the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, was set to mark 78 years since the Nakba through music, comedy, poetry, and fundraising for healthcare workers in Gaza. It was due to feature well-known figures including Khalid Abdalla, Juliet Stevenson, Maxine Peake, and Brian Eno.
Abdalla described the blanket rejection of Palestinian artists’ visa applications as a ‘painful shock,’ arguing that Britain, given its historic role in Palestinian displacement, should have made every effort to support their participation. Instead, the Home Office’s decision appeared deeply short-sighted, reinforcing the pattern of silencing Palestinian voices even during a commemoration of their own history.
Organisers have said the event will be postponed, not cancelled, until Palestinian artists can take part as intended.
