Would-Be Koran Burner Terry Jones Barred from the UK
Controversial Florida pastor Terry Jones, who got worldwide attention last September because of his "," has been denied entry into the United Kingdom. Jones, pastor at Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., had been invited to speak and participate in a series of anti-Islam demonstrations next month put on by a group called England is Ours (EIO), based in Milton Keynes, located in southeastern England.
Jones was officially banned Wednesday, but he's been on British Home Secretary Theresa May's radar for a few months, . She had been actively considering a ban on Jones since early December when another group, the virulently anti-Islamic (EDL), extended him an invitation. May explained that the home secretary 鈥渉as the right to exclude people who are not conducive to public good or on national security grounds.鈥 said of the decision to bar Jones that his 鈥渘umerous comments 鈥 are evidence of his unacceptable behaviour.鈥
Jones' "International Burn a Koran Day," which was slated to coincide with the 2010 anniversary of 9/11, brought international condemnation, including criticism from President Obama. General David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, said the stunt could ignite violence from the Taliban and endanger troops. Defense Secretary Robert Gates even called Jones personally to express his grave concerns that the proposed Koran-burning could put the lives of American forces at risk around the world. Jones finally conceded and scrapped the event, but he didn't cool his rhetoric.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated a hate group.
Barry Taylor, secretary of EIO, expressed to Breakingnews.ie his disappointment over Britain鈥檚 exclusion of Jones. 鈥淭he whole object of the exercise is to have a discussion about the Islamification of the UK,鈥 he said, and 鈥渏ust have dialogue about the problems.鈥
According to its website, EIO is 鈥渁 group of patriotic activists based in the UK.鈥 They intend to 鈥渢ake back governance of the United Kingdom鈥 and return it to 鈥渃ontrol of the British people.鈥 EIO is opposed to all immigration, and they claim that the British banking system is corrupt and that the media is controlled by 鈥渁 very small group of people.鈥 The group is also anti-Muslim. One of its claims is that Muslim men are pedophiles who prey on young European girls because the restrictions of Islam don't allow them ready access to Muslim women.
A recent press release at Dove World Outreach Center鈥檚 website states, 鈥淭his ban exemplifies the sabotage of the basic human rights of freedom of speech and freedom of expression.鈥 The ban, the press release continues, exemplifies how effective the threat of militant Islam in the UK is, that even a speculation of violence prevents someone from traveling to the UK.聽 Jones has said that he will appeal the ban. One of his daughters and her children live in England, he has said, and the ban prevents him from seeing them.
that he is not against Muslims or Islam, but only the 鈥渞adical element of Islam.鈥 However, Jones has repeatedly bashed Islam without making such a distinction. The title of his book is 鈥淚slam is of the Devil,鈥 in which he claims that the world is facing a 鈥済reat danger,鈥 and that danger is 鈥渢he growing religion of Islam.鈥 Jones writes that Islam masquerades as a religion of peace, but in fact 鈥渋t is very much a religion of intolerance, violence, and oppression.鈥 In addition, Jones continues, Muslims suffer 鈥渦nder the curse of Islam鈥 and that when 鈥淚slam comes to your neighborhood 鈥 you will have to become a Muslim, or you will face death.鈥
Jones was originally contacted by the EDL in December about his attending a rally scheduled for February of this year. That news brought forth calls and petitions from various British activist groups like to bar Jones from entering the country, according to newspaper reports.
In an amazing display of irony, 鈥 because of his anti-gay views. 聽An EDL member told BBC Radio Derby that though they agreed with Jones about Islam, 鈥渨e do not agree with some of his manifesto such as some of his issues with homosexuality and some of his issues with race.鈥 The spokesman continued, 鈥淭he EDL is anti-homophobic and we are a non-racism organization.鈥
The EIO, whose invitation followed that of the EDL, hasn鈥檛 given up. Another EIO spokesman said he hoped other members of Jones' congregation would be able to visit and speak to the group, if Jones couldn't get the ban reversed. Otherwise, EIO's secretary Taylor stated, they'll try to catch him in Europe, because apparently, Jones is planning visits in nearby European countries.
If that falls through, there's always 鈥淚nternational Judge a Koran Day,鈥 an event slated for March 20th at Dove World鈥檚 Florida locale. What exactly does that entail? From the signs in the photo on the church's website, you can 鈥渂urn it, drown it, shred it, or shoot it.鈥