ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The organiser of a concert by a Pakistani group called the Riztwan-Muazzam Qawwali had to cancel the concert scheduled for Tuesday because the musicians were not approved visas for "security reasons" and so the
organisers will request the Interior Ministry to dismiss the person responsible who self-willingly and without reason prevented the musicians from entering Croatia.
ZAGREB, Nov 4 (Hina) - The organiser of a concert by a Pakistani
group called the Riztwan-Muazzam Qawwali had to cancel the concert
scheduled for Tuesday because the musicians were not approved visas
for "security reasons" and so the organisers will request the
Interior Ministry to dismiss the person responsible who self-
willingly and without reason prevented the musicians from entering
Croatia. #L#
"We will endeavour to gain support from the cultural public in our
efforts because behaviour like this indicates the police's self-
will towards civil society," the president of the "Healthy Society"
association and head of the Culture Ministry's project, Zoran
Maric, said.
At a press conference on Monday, Maric was dressed in black with a
stocking covering his head.
Ten musicians who were banned from entering Croatia for "security
reasons", are one of the most significant bands in Pakistan
carrying on a family tradition of Sufistic spiritual music dating
back 600 years. They have held concerts in virtually every country
in Europe and have released albums through the British Real World
Records company.
"It is senseless and stupid to connect Sufism with terrorism and the
decision not to approve their visas to Croatia will cause long term
damage to world music circles," Maric said.
He added that the group's manager Rashid Ahmed Din had stated that
the band no longer wished to perform in Croatia, however, the
Multimedia project will continue due to the enormous effort lodged
so far and will continue with performances in Germany, Hungary,
Slovenia, Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
At the press conference reporters were able to pose questions over
the phone to Ahmed Din, who is currently in Moscow.
Responding to questions whether the decision not to perform in
Croatia was final, Din said that the concert could be considered
only if the Croatian Government were to send an official
invitation.
He added that not one country had rejected to issue them visas.
A spokeswoman at the Interior Ministry Zinka Bardic said that the
Interior Ministry was not responsible for issuing visas but rather
the Foreign Ministry.
The Interior Ministry is required to collect certain approval from
other state bodies or services and if it does not receive the
necessary approval from these bodies or services within the
Interior Ministry then it cannot issue the necessary approval for
the visa to be issued, Bardic said.
Croatian Culture Minister Antun Vujic expressed regret that the
Pakistani artists were not allowed to enter Croatia, saying that
the decision was up to the Interior Ministry.
The intention was not to prevent cultural ties and co-operation but
the Interior Ministry had other reasons, Vujic said at a press
conference on Monday in the Culture Ministry.
(hina) sp it sb