Anti-Muslim hate monger visit to Britain banned

Yesterday we reported that radical anti-Muslim Terry Jones was seeking to visit Britain to give a speech at a rally for England Is Ours (who ever they might be). Jones, known for his failed attempt to burn the Qur'an last September, is so extreme that even the English Defence League distanced themselves from him.

But today the Home Office has quite rightly refused Jones entry.

"The Government opposes extremism in all its forms which is why we have excluded Pastor Terry Jones from the UK. Numerous comments made by Pastor Jones are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour."

"We are not willing to allow entry to those whhose presence is not conducive to the public good". the Home Office has stated.

Jones, 58, of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, caused widespread fury when he threatened to burn copies of the Islamic holy book on the anniversary of 9/11.

This week he was the subject of further  controversy in Britain by accepting an invitation from anti-Islamic group England Is Ours (EIO) to speak at a rally in Milton Keynes, Bucks.

Mohamed Suleman, a trustee of the Milton Keynes Muslim Association, was against the pastor’s visit  saying it could damage race relations.

He said:”There hasn’t been tension between muslims and non-muslims in Milton Keynes and this kind of thing is only going to cause more Islamophobia.

”I’m going to try to get together groups of all different cultures to try and block him from coming. We don’t want his toxicity in our great city.””

Jones  ban will no doubt spark the usual far right cries about freedom of speech. Unfortunately while freedom of speech is a worthy ideal, freedom to incite racial or religious hatred is not.

With a spate of arson attacks on Mosques and book burnings in the UK can we really have afforded such a divisive figure like Jones coming over and increasing hostilities toward our communities?

Leon Green