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| Anti-gay preachers banned from UK | Anti-gay preachers banned from UK |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A father and daughter from a US church which preaches hatred of homosexuals have been banned from entering the UK. | A father and daughter from a US church which preaches hatred of homosexuals have been banned from entering the UK. |
| Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) had urged protests against a play being put on in Hampshire. | Fred Phelps and his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper from the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) had urged protests against a play being put on in Hampshire. |
| Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke is staging The Laramie Project, a play about a man killed for being gay. | Queen Mary's College in Basingstoke is staging The Laramie Project, a play about a man killed for being gay. |
| Mrs Phelps-Roper told BBC News Online the decision would "bring great wrath upon your heads". | Mrs Phelps-Roper told BBC News Online the decision would "bring great wrath upon your heads". |
| She warned other members of the church, who are not as well known to the authorities, will be trying to get into the UK to protest. | She warned other members of the church, who are not as well known to the authorities, will be trying to get into the UK to protest. |
| "There are members of WBC that are not named Phelps," she added. | "There are members of WBC that are not named Phelps," she added. |
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| "So they [the authorities] might have their work cut out for them. | "So they [the authorities] might have their work cut out for them. |
| "Unless they intend to begin checking the bare backsides of every person coming into that country to find that tattoo that says 'Property of WBC' - they will have no way of identifying who is from WBC." | "Unless they intend to begin checking the bare backsides of every person coming into that country to find that tattoo that says 'Property of WBC' - they will have no way of identifying who is from WBC." |
| She called the British government "filthy" for thinking they have the power "to keep the word of God from coming into her borders". | She called the British government "filthy" for thinking they have the power "to keep the word of God from coming into her borders". |
| The UK Border Agency said it opposed "extremism in all its forms". | The UK Border Agency said it opposed "extremism in all its forms". |
| A spokesman added: "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities. | A spokesman added: "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities. |
| "We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country. | "We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country. |
| "The exclusions policy is targeted at all those who seek to stir up tension and provoke others to violence regardless of their origins and beliefs." | "The exclusions policy is targeted at all those who seek to stir up tension and provoke others to violence regardless of their origins and beliefs." |
| 'Amazed and disturbed' | 'Amazed and disturbed' |
| The Westboro church's website advertised the picket which was set to take place on Friday, proclaiming: "In merry old England they plan to further enrage the living God by putting on the farce known commonly as The Laramie Project. | The Westboro church's website advertised the picket which was set to take place on Friday, proclaiming: "In merry old England they plan to further enrage the living God by putting on the farce known commonly as The Laramie Project. |
| "We will picket them, and see if they actually believe those lies they tell about how tolerant and accepting Brits are." | "We will picket them, and see if they actually believe those lies they tell about how tolerant and accepting Brits are." |
| Hampshire Police said they were aware of the planned protest and officers were monitoring the situation. | Hampshire Police said they were aware of the planned protest and officers were monitoring the situation. |
| The church's pickets of military funerals have outraged Americans | The church's pickets of military funerals have outraged Americans |
| Stephen Sheedy, principal at Queen Mary's College, said: "I have been amazed and disturbed by what has happened this week. | Stephen Sheedy, principal at Queen Mary's College, said: "I have been amazed and disturbed by what has happened this week. |
| "[The church's views] are such a gross abuse of Christianity and a gross misreading. | "[The church's views] are such a gross abuse of Christianity and a gross misreading. |
| "The show is being put on by a production company, not by our students, but we support it fully and hope it goes ahead without any problems." | "The show is being put on by a production company, not by our students, but we support it fully and hope it goes ahead without any problems." |
| He does not expect any picket by the Westboro church but thought the coverage could actually spark a counter protest against them. | He does not expect any picket by the Westboro church but thought the coverage could actually spark a counter protest against them. |
| Members of the group - based in Topeka, Kansas - have denounced homosexuality for years and have in the past targeted the funerals of Aids victims. | Members of the group - based in Topeka, Kansas - have denounced homosexuality for years and have in the past targeted the funerals of Aids victims. |
| In 2007, the church was told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) after its members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality. | In 2007, the church was told to pay $10.9m (£5.2m) after its members cheered a soldier's death as "punishment" for US tolerance of homosexuality. |