American Extremists Aren't Allowed in the UK!

This gives me endless delight and amusement. The UK ain't allowing us to spread racism and homophobia. Bwa ha ha ha ha!

To our credit, we do allow free speech here in America. But there are some things I wish people weren't allowed to say. ~ No1KState

Anyway, h/t to Btx3 via a comment at jjp and from bloomberg.com:

U.K. Denies Entry to Islamic, Baptist Preachers, Michael Savage

By Kitty Donaldson

May 5 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. radio broadcaster Michael Savage and the pastors of a Baptist church are among those barred from entering the U.K. for allegedly stirring-up hatred and fostering extremism, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said.

Savage, whose real name is Michael Alan Weiner, has authored books such as “Liberalism is a Mental Disorder” and was one of 22 foreigners named by Smith as ineligible to visit Britain. She published a list of those banned between October 2008 and March 2009 for “fostering extremism or hatred.”

Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church, which preaches against homosexuals, and fellow church spokeswoman Shirley Phelps-Roper (They're website is www.godhatesfags.com. You can go there if you like, but I'm not going to link it.) were also banned for “unacceptable behavior” that might stir up “inter-community violence” in the U.K.

“Coming to the U.K. is a privilege, and I refuse to extend that privilege to individuals who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life,” Smith said in an e-mail today. “I will not hesitate to name and shame those who foster extremist views. They are not welcome here.”

Britain has toughened measures to exclude so-called preachers of hate after the bombing of the London Underground and bus network in 2005. The rules also target Islamic clerics and people with links to the al-Qaeda terrorist group.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s government now is banning about five people a month under the current policy, more than double the previous rate.

Preachers Abdullah Qadri Al Ahdal, Yunis Al Astal, Safwat Hijazi and Amir Siddique were also banned, the U.K. said. Also on the list were Mike Guzovsky, the leader of a violent group, and the creator of a white supremacist Web site Stormfront, Stephen Donald Black.

Web radio broadcaster Eric Gliebe was also denied entry as was Artur Ryno and Pavel Skachevsky, who lead a gang accused of beating migrants.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kitty Donaldson in London at kdonaldson1@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 5, 2009 06:58 EDT
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