First Female Arab pastor barred from flight to Scotland despite acquiring visa

Rev. Rola Sleiman, the first female pastor in the Arab Christian world, has been prevented from boarding a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland despite being granted a visa by U.K.'s Home Office.

The Home Office initially denied Sleiman's visa, saying it was not convinced that she will leave the U.K. at the end of her visit.

Sleiman, who was ordained as a pastor in February, was invited by the Church of Scotland to attend the week-long General Assembly in Edinburgh. She was supposed to represent the National Evangelical (Protestant) Church of Syria and Lebanon at the key conference, which began on Saturday.

The World Mission Council of the Church of Scotland had assured the U.K. Visas and Immigration department last month that it will cover Sleiman's expenses during her eight-day stay. But on May 8, Sleiman received a letter from the Home Office, saying it was not satisfied with her claims regarding her income and that the Church was supporting her financially.

After the pastor's rejection received media coverage last week, the Home Office decided to review her case and granted her a visa.

The BBC reported that she had traveled to Beirut airport, but officials there did not allow her to board a flight.

The Church said that it was unclear why she was prevented from boarding the flight on Thursday night.

"We accept the genuine efforts Home Office officials have made in recent days to overturn the original refusal to grant Ms Sleiman a visa, and it is unfortunate that the measures put in place were not sufficient to allow Ms Sleiman to board her flight," said Very Rev. Dr. John Chalmers, the Principal Clerk to the General Assembly.

"We had hoped to welcome Ms Sleiman to our gathering on Saturday, and hear first-hand the challenges facing the Christian community in the Middle East. It is a matter of real sorrow this will no longer be possible," he continued.

Chalmers revealed that another delegate from South Sudan had also been refused a visa to attend the conference. He urged the Home Office to review its visa process to ensure that the UK will maintain its reputation as a "place of welcome."

More than 730 commissioners and 150 people from other organizations are expected to participate in the annual Kirk summit at the Assembly Hall on the Mound. The conference will include reports from the World Mission Council, which works with overseas groups.

The Church of Scotland is still hoping that Sleiman would be allowed to attend a Women in Faith event that will be held later this year.