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US pastor Terry Jones banned from entering UK | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Controversial US pastor Terry Jones has been barred from entering the UK for the public good, the Home Office says. | |
The pastor had been invited to address right-wing group England Is Ours in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. | |
Mr Jones gained international attention last year for threatening to burn a copy of the Koran outside his church on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. | |
His son, Pastor Luke Jones, said the family was "shocked" and the decision did not "benefit England". | |
The Home Office said Mr Jones could not enter the UK as the government "opposes extremism in all its forms". | |
A spokesman said: "Numerous comments made by Pastor Jones are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour. | |
"Coming to the UK is a privilege not a right and we are not willing to allow entry to those whose presence is not conducive to the public good. | "Coming to the UK is a privilege not a right and we are not willing to allow entry to those whose presence is not conducive to the public good. |
"The use of exclusion powers is very serious and no decision is taken lightly or as a method of stopping open debate." | "The use of exclusion powers is very serious and no decision is taken lightly or as a method of stopping open debate." |
Mr Jones - who is pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, which has fewer than 50 members - came to prominence in September after he announced plans for his "International Burn a Koran Day". | Mr Jones - who is pastor of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, which has fewer than 50 members - 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. | His plan was internationally condemned and sparked many demonstrations around the world. He eventually called off his protest. |
'Disappointed' | |
Mr Jones had accepted an invitation to speak to England Is Ours in February and was due to speak at a series of demonstrations against the expansion of Islam and the construction of mosques in the UK. | |
Barry Taylor, secretary of England Is Ours, said he was "very disappointed" by the decision. | |
"The whole object of the exercise is to have a discussion about the Islamification of the UK and just have dialogue about the problems," he said. | |
"The idea isn't to cause trouble or kick up a stink. These things do need addressing and people do need to speak about them. We shouldn't be frightened about them." | |
He said he had expected about 100 people to attend events organised for Mr Jones, including about 30 members of England Is Ours. | |
"It's quite possible that other members of his outreach may be able to come," Mr Taylor said. | |
"I understand Pastor Jones is planning some visits to nearby European countries and we will be able to go and visit him there," he added. | |
Pastor Luke Jones said the decision about his father was "pretty ridiculous". | |
"In England you have got radical Muslims demonstrating in the streets, and calling for the death of British soldiers, and nobody really does anything about that. | |
"Our protests are against a book, the Koran - people are not our target. We should all be able to voice our opinion in a peaceful way." | |
A press release issued by Stand Up America - which is organising rallies addressed by the elder Mr Jones - said the ban exemplified the sabotage of the basic human rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression. | |
In December, Home Secretary Theresa May said she was "actively looking at" whether Mr Jones should be banned from entering the UK after the right-wing group English Defence League (EDL) had invited him to share his views on Islam at a rally in Luton, Bedfordshire, in February. | |
However the EDL later withdrew the invitation to Mr Jones. A spokesman said it was because of his critical views on homosexuality and race. |