Dubai deports world’s most pierced man over 'black magic' fears
Rolf Buchholz was forced to cancel a nightclub appearance and sent back to Germany
The world’s most pierced man, who has more than 453 piercings on his body and face, has been deported from Dubai over what he claims are fears from airport staff he could be practising "black magic".
Rolf Buchholz, who arrived in Dubai airport at the weekend, had travelled to the emirate in order to appear at the Cirque le Soir nightclub.
But the 53-year-old German, who is heavily tattooed, has two horn implants on his face, and 158 piercings around his lips alone, was stopped before exiting customs after he had been allowed through immigration.
Mr Buchholz then found himself in a room with other deportees before being placed on a flight to Istanbul, he told the Associated Press.
He holds two world records for being the most pierced man in the world, appears in the Guinness Book of World Records, and holds the record for the most body modifications.
Dubai is regarded as a one of the more liberal states of the United Arab Emirates, where alcohol is consumed at its bars and nightclubs, and the Cirque le Soir, attached to the Fairmont Hotel, features circus acts from sword-swallowers, stilt walkers and contortionists, among other performances.
The club said in a statement that it had done its best to get Mr Buchholz into the city, but that its efforts had been unsuccessful. Airport authorities told the club their guest was being denied entrance to the city over "security reasons". Police could not be reached for a comment at the time.
Mr Buchholz said he had not been given a proper reason as to why he was being deported, but said that officials had relayed to airport staff that they feared he was a practitioner of black magic.
He tweeted: "At the end I got an answer why I can’t enter Dubai: The Immigration thought I am Black Magic. Stupid people."
He has since arrived back in Germany but on Sunday his luggage was still in Dubai. He said he would never return to Dubai.
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