New Delhi: Pulitzer Prize-winning Kashmiri photojournalist Sana Irshad Mattoo was not allowed to go abroad. According to reports, Mattoo was stopped at the airport by immigration officials. Officials said he could not be allowed to go abroad due to restrictions imposed on him by the Jammu and Kashmir police.
I was scheduled to travel from Delhi to Paris today for a book launch and photography exhibition as one of 10 award winners of the Serendipity Arles grant 2020. Despite procuring a French visa, I was stopped at the immigration desk at Delhi airport. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/OoEdBBWNw6
— Sanna Irshad Mattoo (@mattoosanna) July 2, 2022
Sana Mattoo was originally on her way to Paris to attend a book launch and a photography exhibition but was stopped by immigration officials at the Delhi airport.
I was not give any reason but told I would not be able to travel internationally. (2/2)
— Sanna Irshad Mattoo (@mattoosanna) July 2, 2022
After the incident, Sana said that everything that happened today was completely unexpected. She tweeted that I was going to Paris for a book launch and photography exhibition to be included in the 10 awards of the Serendipity Earls Grant 2020. Despite having a French visa, I was stopped at the Delhi airport by immigration officials. “I have not been given any reason,” Sana said. All that was said was that I could not travel abroad.
Jammu and Kashmir police officials, on the other hand, said Mattoo has been placed on a no-fly list. Which means he won’t be able to travel abroad. Earlier, however, some Kashmiri journalists, activists and academics were detained at the airport.
Reacting to the incident, Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, said the lookout circular was being misused. Everyone who criticizes the government is annoyed