‘Brave’ young Iraqi musicians to play in Scotland

THE National Youth Orchestra of Iraq is to use money confiscated from the Weir Group for breaching United Nations sanctions to perform at next year’s Edinburgh Fringe.

The musicians, dubbed the “bravest orchestra in the world”, will spend around £100,000 to travel to Scotland where they have strong connections. Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, who lives in Orkney, has worked with the musicians on several collaborations. Zuhal Sultan, an Iraqi teenager who helped found the orchestra, studied in Glasgow and Aberdeen-born Paul MacAlindin is the orchestra’s musical director.

In Iraq, the orchestra is condemned by hardliners for playing western instruments and receives musical instruction online for security.

Earlier this year Culture and External Affairs Minister Fiona Hyslop said £12.4 million of the £13.9m seized under the Proceeds of Crime Act from Weir will be used to fund community projects in Scotland.