Pulitzer Prize winning Kashmiri photojournalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo has alleged that she has been barred from traveling abroad. Sana says that she was about to go to New York to receive the Pulitzer Prize, but she was stopped at the Delhi airport and then the authorities told her that she could not go abroad. Earlier in July also, she was barred from traveling abroad.
Sanna Irshad Mattoo tweeted, “I was to on my way to receive the Pulitzer award in New York but I was stopped at the immigration at Delhi airport and barred from traveling internationally despite holding a valid US visa and ticket.”
She further said, “This is the second time I have been stopped without reason or cause. Despite reaching out to several officials after what happened few months ago but I never received ay response. Being able to attend the award ceremony was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me.”
Also read: Journalist Danish Siddiqui, killed in Afghanistan, wins Pulitzer Prize
Earlier in July, Sanna Irshad Mattoo was stopped from going from Delhi to Paris. She was going to attend a book launch and photography exhibition. Even at that time, Mattu had alleged that the immigration authorities had not told her any reason behind it and only said that she could not travel due to restrictions. There has been no response from the administration or the government on Sanna’s allegations so far.
Sanna Irshad Mattoo is among the four journalists of international news agency Reuters, who have been announced for the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in the Feature Photography category. This photo series shows the horrific situation that arose during the second wave of corona pandemic in India. Apart from Mattu, photojournalists Adnan Abidi, Amit Dave and the late Danish Siddiqui will be honored with this award.