Moroccan Pop Star Douzi Denied US Entry After Iraq Visit

Doha – Moroccan singer Douzi was denied entry to the United States this weekend, preventing his scheduled appearance at Harvard University due to a recent trip to Iraq.

The Belgian passport holder discovered the restriction at the airport while attempting to travel to New York before heading to Boston for Harvard’s Arab Conference, scheduled for April 11-13.

“During check-in at the airport, I was informed that I couldn’t enter American soil. I was shocked and asked why. I have no political affiliations; I simply make music,” Douzi said in an Instagram video posted Saturday.

The singer explained that the ban was linked to his visit to Iraq approximately six weeks ago, where he received an award at a cultural event. Iraq is among several countries on a US restricted travel list that can trigger automatic entry denials, particularly for travelers eligible for visa-free entry.

“They told me the ban was related to my visit to Iraq. I went there recently to receive an award,” he explained. “Apparently, Iraq is on a list of countries that can justify denial of entry to the United States.”

Douzi was scheduled to participate in a special session titled “Live with Douzi: A Conversation with Morocco’s Music Ambassador” at the prestigious Harvard Arab Conference, where he was set to discuss his three-decade-long artistic journey.

The US maintains strict entry restrictions for individuals who have recently visited certain countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, Libya, Somalia, and Yemen.

Even for travelers who are not nationals of these countries, a recent visit can trigger automated alerts in US border control systems.

To resolve the situation, Douzi’s team was informed that the only way to lift the ban would be to schedule an interview at the US consulate in his current country of residence. During this interview, he would need to explain the reasons for his visit to Iraq and answer related questions.

“But this cannot be done before the conference I was supposed to attend on April 12 and 13,” he said. “I apologize to everyone who was expecting us at the event.”

The Harvard Arab Conference annually hosts prominent figures from various fields. This year’s event features businessman Mohamed Hadid, director Tima Shomali, designer Tony Ward, and entrepreneur Alia Mahmoud, discussing innovation, media, art, and entrepreneurship in Arab and global contexts.