LONDON – Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei, whose planned 6-month stay in the United Kingdom was shortened to a mere 20 days has been approved for the full duration, accompanied by an official apology from British Home Minister Theresa May.
Ai Weiwei has received an official apology from Britain’s Home Ministry, and will be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for the full 6 months for which he applied (Miguel Villagran / Getty Images.)
May, whose ministry oversees a broad sample of British affairs including immigration, stated that she had never been consulted regarding Ai’s application for a work visa. The Chinese artist will be in the United Kingdom surrounding a major exhibition of his work in September at London’s Royal Academy.
Ai’s passport was returned to him by Chinese authorities two weeks ago, but his application for a work visa was declined by the British embassy in Beijing. Shortening Ai’s stay to a 20-day term ensured that he would be out of the country for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s diplomatic visit in October.
Many speculated that keeping the artist, long critical of the Communist regime, out of the country would prevent protests of the President’s visit which could lead to diplomatic embarrassment for the United Kingdom as it works to restore efforts with China.
A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on
A statement by the Home Ministry declared that, “The home secretary was not consulted over the decision to grant Mr Ai a one month visa. She has reviewed the case and now instructed Home Office officials to issue a full six-month visa.”
The Home Ministry’s representative continued by stating, “We have written to Mr Ai apologizing for the inconvenience caused.”
The artist has been in Germany since receiving his passport, where he is staying with family. Ai is currently in the possession of a 4-year, multiple entry visa to that country, and he has not discussed if and when he has plans to return to China.
Ai Weiwei has spent his first days out of China with family in Europe. A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on
Ai Weiwei has left his home country for the first time since 2011, when he was detained amid a major governmental campaign cracking down on free expression. It is during that raid on his art studio that Ai’s passport was arbitrarily confiscated, though he was charged with no crime.
Ai, who has been very active in documenting his case on social media, has yet to comment on his reinstated visa.