The Guardian | Saeed Kamali Dehghan: Children�s book illustrator Ehsan Abdollahi says Kafkaesque reasons given for refusal

An acclaimed Iranian illustrator has been denied a visa to attend the�Edinburgh international book festival�amid growing criticism of the UK�s handling of Iranian visas.

Ehsan Abdollahi, described by the festival�s director as a �highly respected, award-winning Iranian illustrator of kids� books�, was due to arrive in the UK early August, but he has received a�visa�refusal letter, issued by the British embassy in Dubai and seen by the Guardian. It states that he has �no right of appeal or right to administrative review�.

Abdollahi, 37, who teaches at Tehran�s top Honar (Art) University, has illustrated a number of children�s books published in English by�Tiny Owl, including When I Coloured in the World, by one of Iran�s best-known living poets, Ahmadreza Ahmadi.

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