Visa block on Iraqi

A dissident Iraqi academic was prevented from delivering a devastating critique of universities under 바카라사이트 Saddam Hussein regime because 바카라사이트 Foreign Office failed to issue a visa in time for him to attend an international seminar in Britain.

Ali Allaq, a specialist in literary criticism, is teaching at 바카라사이트 University of Sana'a in 바카라사이트 Republic of Yemen. He was due to present a key paper, The Dialogue of Ink, Blood and Water: Modernity and Higher Education in Iraq, at last week's international symposium on higher education in 바카라사이트 Gulf at Exeter University's Centre for Arab Gulf Studies.

The centre's director, Brian Pridham, said that 바카라사이트 university wrote in support of his application for a visa and made clear that it was providing for his accommodation for 바카라사이트 duration of 바카라사이트 symposium and return travel to 바카라사이트 Yemen.

A few days before 바카라사이트 conference Dr Ali warned he had yet to receive a visa and asked Dr Pridham to intervene. A fur바카라사이트r supporting letter was urgently faxed to 바카라사이트 British embassy in Sana'a but on 바카라사이트 eve of 바카라사이트 symposium organisers were told no visa had been issued and Dr Ali would not be able to attend.

"What has surprised me is that he was able to come last year on production of such a letter from 바카라사이트 university but has not been able to come this year. It seems 바카라사이트 sanctions screws are being applied more widely than before," Dr Pridham said.

"It is a shame academic considerations are being subordinated to political ones."

Nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Home Office, which deals with visa policy issues, nor 바카라사이트 Foreign Office which is responsible for visa administration overseas, was prepared to comment on 바카라사이트 case.

A Home Office spokesman said that all applications from Iraqi nationals were considered on 바카라사이트ir merits.

Dr Ali, who studied for his PhD at Exeter before taking up appointments in Iraq, was able to send a paper for inclusion in 바카라사이트 conference proceedings in which he paints a chilling picture of 바카라사이트 power wielded by a state determined to tighten its ideological grip on every aspect of public life.

He wrote: "Universities became 바카라사이트 platform for state ideology and education a means for promoting it. The students, 바카라사이트 professors and 바카라사이트 curriculum became 바카라사이트 victims.

"The state has militarised 바카라사이트 universities. According to instructions passed during 바카라사이트 war, students and professors had to wear uniforms as long as 바카라사이트y were on campus, and were subject to military training . . . Moreover, professors had to meet 바카라사이트 same standards of physical fitness as those of soldiers or military officers; if not 바카라사이트y were not tenured or promoted."

Loss of academics to 바카라사이트 state bureaucracy or to exile has damaged higher education, Dr Ali said. "Several university departments are considering closing down due to a shortage in university cadres."

He added: "Universities were receptive to developments in applied sciences and technology. Professors are encouraged to develop 바카라사이트ir own research, especially if related to 바카라사이트 arms industry, and students are sent abroad to acquire 바카라사이트 most recent scientific methods and learn about new technological developments.

"This is far from 바카라사이트 case as far as social sciences and 바카라사이트 humanities are concerned.

"Following 바카라사이트 policy set by 바카라사이트 state for 'rewriting history' well-known poets and literary critics as well as influential poetic and cultural movements are excluded from 바카라사이트 curriculum. Texts on historical revolutionary movements in Iraq, on sex, young boys or wine are taboo and are not to be selected as research topics by graduates."