Pulitzer-winning journo not allowed visit abroad

New Delhi, July 2

A Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist was on Saturday stopped from flying abroad by immigration authorities at the airport here who cited restrictions imposed on her by the Jammu and Kashmir police.

Sanna Irshad Mattoo was on her way to Paris to attend a book launch event and participate in a photography exhibition when she was stopped by immigration authorities at the Delhi airport. “Whatever happened today was totally unexpected,” she said.

In a tweet, she said, “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. I was not given any reason but told I would not be able to travel internationally.”

Mattoo alleged the immigration authorities did not give her any reason for stopping her from flying except saying that she could not travel abroad as there were restrictions. Officials in the Jammu and Kashmir police confirmed that Mattoo had been placed on the no-fly list.

Earlier, some Kashmiri journalists, activists and academicians were stopped at the airport. Karti Chidambaram tweeted, “Indiscriminate use of lookout circular. A tool to harass all critics of this regime.”