L’Internationale, a European confederation of six modern and contemporary art institutions, has issued a statement in support of Andrew Ross, Ashok Sukumaran and Walid Raad, who have been denied entry into the United Arab Emirates. The confederation works to create a space for art that connects museum collections, archives, technology and artistic research.

L’Internationale’s statement:

L’Internationale supports Walid Raad, Andrew Ross and Ashok Sukumaran after the recent ban on their entry to the UAE

In recent weeks, the authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have refused visas, denied entry and deported a number of artists and academics including Andrew Ross and Ashok Sukumaran. The reason seems to be the involvement of the individuals concerned with the Gulf Labor campaign to improve the working conditions of migrants at construction sites for the new cultural infrastructures at Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi. The latest to suffer this humiliation is the Lebanese artist Walid Raad. He has written an open letter describing his treatment and questioning the European and North American museums and universities who are supporting the new museums in the UAE and their sponsors. This letter is attached below.

The confederation L’Internationale would like to express its solidarity with Walid Raad, Andrew Ross and Ashok Sukumaran and encourage the museum institutions involved to respond to this letter and condemn the actions undertaken by the UAE.

Statement by Walid Raad

Statement by Ashok Sukumaran

Stephanie Saul, “N.Y.U. Professor Is Barred by United Arab Emirates”, New York Times, 16 March 2015