A SYRIAN musician was all smiles as he rehearsed for a concert that very nearly didn't happen.
Ibrahim Keivo graced the stage of Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre just days after the Home Office relented to public pressure and gave him a visa to play.
Mr Keivo was initially blocked from entering the UK after his application for a five day working visa was rejected.
More than 45,000 people, including Oxford author Philip Pullman and Queen guitarist Brian May, signed a petition prompting a last minute change of heart by the Home Office on Monday morning.
The singer and oud player flew in from Germany, where he lives, on Wednesday afternoon and opened the Oxford Chamber Music Festival.
He will appear three more times over the weekend.
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