On July 14 2015, the South African writer Ishtiyaq Shukri was detained for several hours at Heathrow Airport in London, and then summarily deported from the United Kingdom, despite being a permanent resident of the UK who is married to a British national. The African Literature Association (ALA) finds this development deeply troubling and regrettable and accordingly, expresses concern at the treatment to which Mr. Shukri was subjected. Given the ALA’s longstanding practice of supporting African writers in the exercise of their vocation no matter their location, we respectfully urge the British immigration authorities to reconsider the actions taken with regard to Mr. Shukri, and to extend to this African writer the usual rights and courtesies afforded all permanent residents of the United Kingdom.
