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| Koran-protest pastor Terry Jones invited to UK rally | Koran-protest pastor Terry Jones invited to UK rally |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Campaigners are calling for a controversial US pastor to be banned from entering the UK to share his views on Islam with activists. | Campaigners are calling for a controversial US pastor to be banned from entering the UK to share his views on Islam with activists. |
| Terry Jones attracted condemnation when he threatened to burn copies of the Koran on this year's 9/11 anniversary. | Terry Jones attracted condemnation when he threatened to burn copies of the Koran on this year's 9/11 anniversary. |
| He said his presence at an English Defence League rally in February would be "positive" but he admitted he would preach against "extremist Muslims". | He said his presence at an English Defence League rally in February would be "positive" but he admitted he would preach against "extremist Muslims". |
| Anti-extremist group Hope Not Hate is urging the home secretary to act. | Anti-extremist group Hope Not Hate is urging the home secretary to act. |
| The EDL said on its Facebook page that the rally in Luton, Bedfordshire, on 5 February would be "our biggest to date". It said Mr Jones would be joining the organisation to "speak out against the evils of Islam". | The EDL said on its Facebook page that the rally in Luton, Bedfordshire, on 5 February would be "our biggest to date". It said Mr Jones would be joining the organisation to "speak out against the evils of Islam". |
| Mr Jones, pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, which has fewer than 50 members, told BBC 5 Live he had "no intention" of burning the Koran in the UK. | |
| He said his speech would be "on harmony, on the subject that Muslims are welcome in our country". | |
| He said: "We have no problem with Muslims - we have freedom of speech and religion - Muslims who want to make our country their country, obey our laws and constitution. | He said: "We have no problem with Muslims - we have freedom of speech and religion - Muslims who want to make our country their country, obey our laws and constitution. |
| "We have a problem with them, which I believe you all have also, when they go on the street... and they call for the death of the UK, for the death of Israel, for the death of America. They call for Sharia law. | "We have a problem with them, which I believe you all have also, when they go on the street... and they call for the death of the UK, for the death of Israel, for the death of America. They call for Sharia law. |
| "They say they are going to turn Buckingham Palace into a mosque and the Queen must convert to Islam or leave the country." | "They say they are going to turn Buckingham Palace into a mosque and the Queen must convert to Islam or leave the country." |
| 'Intimidation and division' | 'Intimidation and division' |
| Mr Jones admitted that his knowledge of the EDL was "somewhat limited". | Mr Jones admitted that his knowledge of the EDL was "somewhat limited". |
| "It's only what I know through conversations with them that my office has had and then of course the different material in the internet that they have put out. I would describe them as a group who, I believe, in their words they want England to stay English." | "It's only what I know through conversations with them that my office has had and then of course the different material in the internet that they have put out. I would describe them as a group who, I believe, in their words they want England to stay English." |
| Anti-extremist group Hope not Hate condemned the invitation to Mr Jones and has launched a petition calling on the home secretary to ban him from entering the UK. | Anti-extremist group Hope not Hate condemned the invitation to Mr Jones and has launched a petition calling on the home secretary to ban him from entering the UK. |
| Its director Nick Lowles said: "Only extremists will benefit from his visit and, as we know, extremism breeds hatred and hatred breeds violence. | Its director Nick Lowles said: "Only extremists will benefit from his visit and, as we know, extremism breeds hatred and hatred breeds violence. |
| "It is yet another example of how the EDL exists only to sow the seeds of intimidation and division." | "It is yet another example of how the EDL exists only to sow the seeds of intimidation and division." |
| A Home Office spokesman said: "We do not routinely comment on individual cases." | A Home Office spokesman said: "We do not routinely comment on individual cases." |
| Home Secretary Theresa May has the power to exclude an individual from coming to the UK if she considers that the individual's presence here would not be conducive to the public good. | Home Secretary Theresa May has the power to exclude an individual from coming to the UK if she considers that the individual's presence here would not be conducive to the public good. |
| Mr Jones came to prominence in September after he announced plans for his "International Burn a Koran Day". | |
| His plan was internationally condemned and sparked many demonstrations around the world. He eventually called off his protest. |