11:42pm UK, Wednesday January 19, 2011
Controversial US preacher Terry Jones has been barred from the UK after being invited to speak at an anti-Islamic demonstration next month.
But he has told Sky News he is "disappointed" by the ban.
Mr Jones said: "We would ask it be reconsidered and the ban lifted.
"I have done a countless number of interviews and in those I have stated and assured the media and British Government we have no intention of doing anything against British law.
"We feel this is against our human rights to travel and freedom of speech.
"We are not against Muslims, we are not against Islam. We welcome Muslims and have only spoken out against the radical element of Islam."
He added he was particularly looking forward to visiting the UK as his daughter and grandchildren live in England.
A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government opposes extremism in all its forms which is why we have excluded Pastor Terry Jones from the UK.
"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.
"The use of exclusion powers is very serious and no decision is taken lightly or as a method of stopping open debate."
Pastor Jones had accepted the invitation to speak to a group called England Is Ours next month.
The demonstrations were being held against the expansion of Islam and the construction of mosques in the UK.
A spokesman for England Is Ours said he hoped other members of Pastor Jones' outreach centre would be able to visit and speak to the group if the controversial preacher was unable to get the decision overturned.
No comments:
Post a Comment