Joss Stone Deported from Iran, One Country Shy of Performing in Every Nation
British singer Joss Stone was deported from Iran amid her quest to perform in every country on Earth. Iran was the last country on the artist's list.
On Wednesday (July 3), Stone shared the news via an Instagram video she posted from an airport in Iran, explaining it is illegal for women to perform in public in the country.
"Personally, I don’t fancy going to an Iranian prison, nor am I trying to change the politics of the countries I visit. Nor do I wish to put other people in danger," Stone wrote in the caption. "However, it seems the authorities don’t believe we wouldn’t be playing a public show so they have popped us on what they call the 'black list,' as we found out when we turned up to the immigration hall."
Stone continued that after conversing with Iranian immigration, they decided to detain her and her crew for the night. They were released the next morning (July 4). "Of course I was gutted," the performer wrote. "So close yet so far, this moment broke a little piece of my heart."
Although her goal was not accomplished, Stone said she is looking on the bright side. "I told them [immigration] my story and explained my mission: to bring good feeling with what I have to give and show those, who want to look, the positives of our globe." Stone said that she still plans to work towards her goal, without breaking any laws.
Stone added that the people she met in Iran were kind — so much so that she was shocked. Stone recounted that the officers kept saying "sorry" that she could not enter.
At the end of the caption, Stone revealed that she and her crew did not have proper paperwork. "We were the ones that should have been apologizing for not having our correct paperwork," she wrote.
Watch the full video, below.