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Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid says Japan held him 24 hours, denied entry
Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid said he was held for about 24 hours at a Tokyo airport and denied entry to Japan ahead of planned stand-up shows, after officials told him he lacked the proper entertainer visa.
Palestinian American comedian Sammy Obeid said he was denied entry to Japan and held for about 24 hours ahead of stand-up shows he planned to perform in Tokyo.
Obeid said he arrived in Tokyo two days before the shows with two other comedians, who entered the country without problems. He said immigration officers took him to a holding room on security grounds and questioned him through an interpreter about his profession, travel plans and activities in Japan, asking for an hour-by-hour schedule of his four days in the country.
He was told he did not have the visa required to work in entertainment. Obeid acknowledged the visa problem was partly his responsibility, saying the venues were too small to secure the sponsorship needed for an entertainer visa and that tickets were sold through a U.S.-based platform. "I take responsibility for not foreseeing this," he said. Japanese authorities have not publicly commented on his account.
Obeid said he could have appealed, but was told the process could take 72 hours and that he would remain in custody while it was reviewed, so he agreed to leave. He said he spent about 22 hours alone without access to food, a shower, his phone or books, and that his shows were canceled.
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