Angelina Jolie Denied Entry to Sudan

Angelina Jolie has been denied entry to Sudan. The Hollywood A-lister, who was recently given the title of honorary dame by Queen Elizabeth II, was slated to appear at a summit at the African nation as part of her role as special envoy for the United Nations.

The 39-year-old actress was due to attend at an event at the capital Khartoum, but was denied an entry visa. British ambassador to Sudan, Peter Tibber, confirmed the reason for Jolie’s absence on Friday.

Barred from entering the country, Jolie still managed to impart her message at the summit by appearing in a video.

In the video, she criticised President Omar al-Bashir and his administration for the death sentence of Christian woman Yahya Ibrahim, who refused to renounce her religion in the Muslim-dominated country.

“Khartoum should respect the fundamental right to freedom of religion, and to repeal its laws that ban people from converting their faith, as they are inconsistent with its 2005 Interim Constitution, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she was quoted by various media as saying in the clip.

She also noted the disproportionate amount of wealth among the elites in Sudan’s political circle, saying “They steal wealth, then fund the Janjaweed, the internal security organs, and the Sudanese Air Force, and ensure that those brutal instruments of control are held by a small circle of ruling party officials.”

In 2004, Jolie visited the African nation to meet with refugees. She described the conditions in Sudan as “unbelievably horrible.”

The “Maleficent” actress, who raises six children with partner Brad Pitt, was recently bestowed the title of honorary dame by Queen Elizabeth II.

She was singled out for recognition during the British queen’s birthday honours for her work against sexual violence in war zones.