Court upholds Farrakhan ban
2002-04-30 22:11
London - A British court upheld on Tuesday a ban on US black Muslim leader
Louis Farrakhan entering the country, citing concerns he would
enflame tensions already stirred up by the events of September 11
and the Middle East conflict.
In the latest twist to a long-running legal tussle, the court of appeal ruled that the government was best placed to decide who
could and could not enter Britain.
Citing Farrakhan's "notorious opinions" and the delicate current
state of race and community relations, the court threw out a
previous ruling that that had overturned a 15-year ban on Farrakhan
coming to Britain.
Home Secretary David Blunkett welcomed the decision.
"I am very relieved that the view taken by successive home
secretaries has been vindicated and the home secretary's right to
exclude someone from the country whose presence is not conducive to
good public order has been upheld," Blunkett said in remarks
relayed to AFP by a Home Office spokesperson.
"This has been a long haul, but I am pleased with today's ruling
which makes clear that the home secretary is both best placed and
democratically accountable for these decisions," the home secretary
added.
Outspoken views
The leader of the radical Nation of Islam group known for his
statements denouncing Jews and whites, Farrakhan has been excluded
from Britain since 1986 on the basis that his outspoken views would
whip up inter-community tension.
The high court ruled last year that the banning order should be
lifted after Farrakhan supporters took legal action against the
government.
However the appeal court judges agreed that since then "the
events of September 11 had intervened". Lawyers for the government
argued furthermore that the US firebrand would be particularly
unwelcome given the current Middle East tensions.
"The home secretary was entitled to conclude that Mr Farrakhan
is well known for expressing anti-Semitic and racially divisive
views, particularly at a time of political unrest in the Middle
East," said Monica Carss-Frisk, who represented Blunkett.
Farrakhan's representative in Britain, Hilary Muhammed,
expressed her disappointment at the verdict and vowed to continue
to "fight this injustice".
"Our reaction, because we invited him to come, is to continue to
fight and in the end be successful in the fight, which we believe
we will be," he said. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA