Renowned Chinese artist and political activist Ai Weiwei was denied entry into Switzerland on Monday after failing to provide the necessary visa. According to an Instagram post by Ai, he spent
the night from Monday to Tuesday sleeping on a bench in Zurich Airport’s transit area.
A spokesperson for the Zurich cantonal police confirmed on Tuesday morning that Ai Weiwei lacked the required entry documents, which led to him being refused entry. However, authorities emphasized that he was not detained and was free to remain in the airport’s transit area until his departure.
The 67-year-old artist shared his experience on Instagram, posting photos and videos of his time at the airport. "I'm sleeping on a bench with a blanket tonight, waiting to be deported at 6:50 am the next morning," he wrote. The images included official documents dated Monday, confirming that he had traveled from London without a visa.
Ai Weiwei, known for his outspoken criticism of the Chinese government, was imprisoned in China in 2011 and later banned from traveling. After his release, he eventually left the country and has since continued his activism from abroad. Photo by Jindřich Nosek (NoJin), Wikimedia commons.