UK’s Geert Wilders ban deemed unlawful by Immigration Tribunal
Breaking news: The Asylum and Immigration Tribunal in London has ruled that the UK government was wrong to ban Geert Wilders from entering the country.
Earlier this year, Wilders was invited to address the House of Lords and show his film Fitna, but was turned away by immigration at Heathrow. The Secretary of State Jacqui Smith said that showing the film “would threaten community harmony and therefore public security in the UK.”
The government has not yet reacted to the tribunal’s judgement.
UPDATE: (15:06) The BBC reports that the government is disappointed:
We are disappointed by the court’s decision. The government opposes extremism in all its forms.
“The decision to refuse Wilders admission was taken on the basis that his presence could have inflamed tensions between our communities and have led to inter-faith violence. We still maintain this view.
Is there any truth in the rumour that Jackboot Jacqui said that if it had been “Asian Babes With Big Bazookas” it would have been a different matter?
I rather think that “Inter faith violence” is a pretty likely outcome of the government’s crass sectarian education policy. Even with Northern Ireland right next door, they are unable to see how bad an idea faith schools are.
As I recall, when the Wilders thing first blew up, we had people within the government commenting on Fitna while admitting to not having watched it. Such people in my view are not qualified to comment, not only because they have not seen the film but also because they are far too stupid to have an opinion worth considering.
But thank goodness everything’s going to change for the better under Michael Gove’s wonderful new policies next year, stonyground! (Hollow laugh!!)
Excellent news. Nice to see the anti-liberty NewLab fascist wannabes take one in the teeth.
A good result but no doubt on hearing this, the muzzie extremists are rallying their dimwit followers for a demonstration, ritual flag burning etc.
Say no to offense kind of culture is well spread from the corridors of the stock market through the subordinates at whitehall, parliament and beyond. Curious that when it is safe, courts tend to remind what the law actually is, but it never stops actions based on fear and ignorance, rather than information, imagination, a few good clues and education..
A case in point is in today’s guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/oct/14/brooke-shields-tate-modern and the offending photo is at: http://iconicphotos.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/brooke-shields-by-gary-gross/
Careful before clicking, you might find yourself asking questions..
oh! Just noticed the guardian’s photo version from a few weeks ago. Just underlines the point:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2009/sep/30/brooke-shields-naked-tate-modern
On the plus side, the puritanical effort to impose itself, which is btw not just a newlab solitary thing, like others in history, is doomed to implode upon itself for it attempts to suppress the very elements that keeps culture alive. Shame though that this requires a refight every now and again..
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