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Troy Newman, Head of Anti-Abortion Group, Is Held in Australia Over Canceled Visa Troy Newman, Head of U.S. Anti-Abortion Group, Is Held in Australia Over Canceled Visa
(about 14 hours later)
The head of a United States anti-abortion group was detained at the airport in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday while trying to enter the country on a canceled visa, according to the group, Operation Rescue, and Australian news reports.The head of a United States anti-abortion group was detained at the airport in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday while trying to enter the country on a canceled visa, according to the group, Operation Rescue, and Australian news reports.
The group’s president, Troy Newman, was scheduled to give a series of talks sponsored by an Australian anti-abortion group. But some politicians in the country had criticized his impending visit, saying he could instigate harassment or even violence against women and medical professionals. Mr. Newman’s visa was canceled this week by Australia’s Immigration Ministry, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.The group’s president, Troy Newman, was scheduled to give a series of talks sponsored by an Australian anti-abortion group. But some politicians in the country had criticized his impending visit, saying he could instigate harassment or even violence against women and medical professionals. Mr. Newman’s visa was canceled this week by Australia’s Immigration Ministry, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Mr. Newman posted a video on Facebook of him arguing with an airline employee in Denver, where he was told he could not continue his flight because of the Australian authorities’ decision. Despite the revocation of his visa, Mr. Newman said in another post on Facebook that he was eventually able to continue on to Australia.Mr. Newman posted a video on Facebook of him arguing with an airline employee in Denver, where he was told he could not continue his flight because of the Australian authorities’ decision. Despite the revocation of his visa, Mr. Newman said in another post on Facebook that he was eventually able to continue on to Australia.
He said the revocation “was based on a pile of lies, including the idea that I promote violence.”He said the revocation “was based on a pile of lies, including the idea that I promote violence.”
A Labor member of the Australian Parliament, Terri Butler, wrote this week to Peter Dutton, the minister for Immigration and Border Protection, saying she was concerned that Mr. Newman could inspire “the harassment and intimidation of women accessing reproductive services and professionals offering those services at medical clinics” or even “threats or the commission of acts of violence.”A Labor member of the Australian Parliament, Terri Butler, wrote this week to Peter Dutton, the minister for Immigration and Border Protection, saying she was concerned that Mr. Newman could inspire “the harassment and intimidation of women accessing reproductive services and professionals offering those services at medical clinics” or even “threats or the commission of acts of violence.”
She cited passages from “Their Blood Cries Out,” a 2000 book Mr. Newman helped write, which says medical professionals who provide abortions should be executed for murder.She cited passages from “Their Blood Cries Out,” a 2000 book Mr. Newman helped write, which says medical professionals who provide abortions should be executed for murder.
Mr. Newman is also a board member of the Center for Medical Progress, which released videos this summer accusing Planned Parenthood of profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. The videos stirred anti-abortion protests, and this week, Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood’s president, told a congressional hearing in the United States that the allegations were “offensive and categorically untrue.”Mr. Newman is also a board member of the Center for Medical Progress, which released videos this summer accusing Planned Parenthood of profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. The videos stirred anti-abortion protests, and this week, Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood’s president, told a congressional hearing in the United States that the allegations were “offensive and categorically untrue.”
Cheryl Sullenger, a senior policy adviser to Operation Rescue, said in a statement from the group that she considered Mr. Newman a “political prisoner” whose treatment was “based on a pack of bold-faced lies about his character.”Cheryl Sullenger, a senior policy adviser to Operation Rescue, said in a statement from the group that she considered Mr. Newman a “political prisoner” whose treatment was “based on a pack of bold-faced lies about his character.”
The statement said that Mr. Newman did not advocate violence against abortion providers but that he instead argued that their work should be criminalized and punished by law. It called for his release and an apology from the Australian government.The statement said that Mr. Newman did not advocate violence against abortion providers but that he instead argued that their work should be criminalized and punished by law. It called for his release and an apology from the Australian government.
“It’s shocking that the Australian government would take these lies at face value and deny Troy his right to his freedom and free speech,” she said. “To say we are disappointed is an understatement.”“It’s shocking that the Australian government would take these lies at face value and deny Troy his right to his freedom and free speech,” she said. “To say we are disappointed is an understatement.”
Operation Rescue said that Mr. Newman learned about his visa revocation only after he had begun his trip. When United Airlines blocked him from continuing from Denver to Los Angeles, he flew to Los Angeles on another airline.Operation Rescue said that Mr. Newman learned about his visa revocation only after he had begun his trip. When United Airlines blocked him from continuing from Denver to Los Angeles, he flew to Los Angeles on another airline.
It was unclear on Thursday how he had been able to board a flight to Melbourne in Los Angeles without the proper visa. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that he took a United Airlines flight and that the airline could face a fine for allowing him to travel without a valid visa. Operation Rescue said it expected Mr. Newman to be deported, a process that could take up to 72 hours.It was unclear on Thursday how he had been able to board a flight to Melbourne in Los Angeles without the proper visa. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that he took a United Airlines flight and that the airline could face a fine for allowing him to travel without a valid visa. Operation Rescue said it expected Mr. Newman to be deported, a process that could take up to 72 hours.