LONDON, June 26: Two American anti-Islam activists were banned on Wednesday from entering Britain following reports they were planning to speak at a far-right rally this weekend.
Robert Spencer and Pamela Geller, who founded an organisation, Stop the Islamisation of America, had been planning to attend an English Defence League march in London. The British Home Office said in a statement that Speller and Geller were “subject to an exclusion decision” and would not be allowed to enter the UK.
“The Home Secretary will seek to exclude an individual if she considers that his or her presence in the UK is not conducive to the public good,” it said.
According to the letter sent to Geller, the Home Secretary’s exclusion decisions are reviewed every three to five years. Spencer and Geller were due to attend an EDL march on Saturday to mark Armed Forces Day.
The march was set to finish in the London neighbourhood where soldier Lee Rigby was killed last month by alleged Islamic extremists. Spencer said in an email that the Home Office’s decision amounts to “craven capitulation”.
Matthew Collins, a spokesman from anti-racism campaigners Hope Not Hate, who had opposed Spencer and Geller entering Britain, said his group was “absolutely delighted” by the Home Office’s decision.—AP
