News and Politics | February 19, 2009 | 5 comments

Anti-gay US preacher banned from entering UK

source: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE51I3TA20090219

Image
mattbrawn
The controversial US preacher, Rev. Fred Phelps, has been denied entry into the United Kingdom along with his daughter.

The pair, part of the infamous Westboro Baptist Church, had attempted to enter Britain to protest outside a performance of "The Laramie Project" - a play profiling the life of murdered gay teenager Matthew Shepard.

But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, speaking via a Home Office representative, condemned their entry saying: "Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities," a Home Office spokeswoman said.

"We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country."


How do you feel about them not being granted access into the UK?
  1. groups:
    News and Politics,   Religion
  2. tags:
    News and Politics,  UK,  Religion,  Immigration,  6 more
  3.     
    |

5 comments // Anti-gay US preacher banned from entering UK

  • Pettigrew
    • 0
      Pettigrew  

    • i think they should have been allowed to protest, i mean people are free to say what they want, they're protest would only have caused a civilised response from the gay community therefore strengthening the gay cause. it is fact that if it were not for groups protesting against the rights of african americans and women that the antithesis began and people began protesting for womens rights.

    • 3 years ago
  • nazbags
  • graemesmith
    • 0
      graemesmith  

    • Taking into account the Government prevented Geert Wilders,the Dutch politician with extremist views on Islam from entering the UK last week, I think it's only right they apply the same rules here.

      Perhaps we just give these groups more publicity than they should be entitled to when we do stuff like this.

      But I feel better now Phelps and his daughter no longer have access to my country.

    • 3 years ago
  • wonderbritches
    • 0
      wonderbritches  

    • Good for the UK! I wish we could refuse them re-entry to the US. Just leave them adrift out there like the Mobro 4000 trash barge in the '80s, no one claiming Phelps or his daughter tlil someone finds a way to remove the garbage from their minds. Pollution of that nature should be denied entry to any country.

    • 3 years ago
  • emmahill
    • 0
      emmahill  
    • Image

    • Here's a link through to the story featured on current.com prior to today's ruling.

      How do you feel now that we know he's been denied a visa and won't be able to enter the UK.

      Is this a positive move for human rights, or a clamp-down on free speech?

    • 3 years ago
more from News and Politics:
from the community

top videos