Sudanese journalist denied UK visa, unable to attend award ceremony

Sudanese journalist Muhammed Emin's visa application to attend an award ceremony in London was rejected by British authorities. Emin said the decision was discriminatory and a double standard.

Sudanese independent journalist Muhammed Emin was unable to attend an award ceremony in London after the UK rejected his visa application. Emin accused British authorities of discrimination and indirect censorship.

Emin, who reports for Middle East Eye from Sudan, was named "Journalist of the Year" at the One World Media 2026 awards for his field coverage of the war in the country. However, after the UK Home Office rejected his visa application for an eight-day visit, he had to accept the award via a video message.

UK's reason for rejection

In the rejection decision, the Home Office stated it was "not convinced" that Emin intended to enter the country for a purpose consistent with visitor visa conditions and expressed doubts about whether he would leave the UK after the visit.

Despite his travel expenses being fully covered by his media organization and having an official invitation from the organizing body, it was announced that the decision was not subject to administrative appeal or judicial review.

Criticism of double standards

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Emin said the rejection angered him but did not completely surprise him. Noting that the Home Office's reasoning contained an implicit assumption that he might seek asylum, Emin described this as discriminatory treatment toward journalists from Africa and the Global South.

He called it a "political and moral scandal" that the UK hosts political and humanitarian conferences to discuss the Sudan crisis while denying Sudanese journalists access to these international platforms.

Comparison with previous experience

Emin recalled that in 2022, he obtained a visa to the UK in just three days to receive the Martin Adler Prize for an investigative report on violations by the Russian mercenary group Wagner in Sudan and the Central African Republic.

He linked the change in attitude this time to the content of the report for which he won the Journalist of the Year award, which covered the resistance of Sudanese people against the Rapid Support Forces. Emin argued that the decision reflected "double standards and an attempt to silence certain voices."

Highlighted humanitarian situation in Sudan

Addressing the humanitarian situation in his country, Emin said the war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has led to widespread violations, some reaching the level of genocide. He stressed that the Sudan crisis deserves international attention equal to other humanitarian crises, including Israel's genocide in Gaza.

Emin said growing international solidarity campaigns could pressure governments supporting the warring parties, adding that Sudanese people are not a burden and that individual actions cannot be used as a justification to punish an entire population. He called on the UK government to review its visa policies, especially for journalists and professionals from conflict zones.

Ongoing war in Sudan

The war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan has been ongoing since April 15, 2023. According to UN and international estimates, the conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and the displacement of approximately 13 million people inside and outside the country. In recent months, the Sudanese army has regained control over large parts of Khartoum state, while the Rapid Support Forces maintain a presence in the Darfur region and some western areas.