(MENAFN) Rescue workers from Syria's White Helmets group, the subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary, will not attend this weekend's Academy Awards ceremony because of intensified government bombing and a rejected passport.
Raed Saleh and fellow White Helmet member Khaled Khatib had been set to attend Sunday's ceremony in Hollywood, where The White Helmets is shortlisted for the award of best short documentary.
"After three days at airport, not allowed to travel to #oscars2017 - had US visa - but passport not accepted. Sad, but important work to do here," Khatib tweeted Saturday from Istanbul.
US Customs and Border Protection spokesman Michael Friel said that "individuals need valid documents to travel to the United States," declining to comment further.
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