The Home Office has barred Renaud Camus, a controversial French philosopher, from entering the UK.
They claim that his presence is "not conducive to the public good".
But is that a consistent standard? Let's look at some of the people that they've allowed to come to the UK:
They claim that his presence is "not conducive to the public good".
But is that a consistent standard? Let's look at some of the people that they've allowed to come to the UK:
Syed Muzaffar Shah Qadri, who is banned from preaching in Pakistan, was allowed to travel to the UK in 2016.
Qadri has celebrated the murder of politicians in Pakistan, arguing that it is legitimate to kill people who oppose Pakistan's oppressive blasphemy laws.
Qadri has celebrated the murder of politicians in Pakistan, arguing that it is legitimate to kill people who oppose Pakistan's oppressive blasphemy laws.
Qadri was a key influence on Tanveer Ahmed, a Bradford taxi driver who was convicted of the murder of another Muslim man, who he deemed insufficiently pious.
During his visit, Qadri delivered sermons at several UK mosques, including venues in Leicester, Woking, and Bolton.
During his visit, Qadri delivered sermons at several UK mosques, including venues in Leicester, Woking, and Bolton.
Muhammad Ibn Muneer is an American cleric. He has openly voiced his support for jihad, and has argued that Jews deserve "Allah's divine wrath". He has also justified stoning for adultery.
He carried out a UK speaking tour in February 2025, visiting Birmingham, Leeds, and London.
He carried out a UK speaking tour in February 2025, visiting Birmingham, Leeds, and London.
Tahir ul-Qadri is an Islamic scholar of Pakistani origin.
He has voiced support for Pakistan's repressive blasphemy laws. He has also worked to censor "offensive" caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
As recently as 2024, ul-Qadri has spoken at major conferences in the UK.
He has voiced support for Pakistan's repressive blasphemy laws. He has also worked to censor "offensive" caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad.
As recently as 2024, ul-Qadri has spoken at major conferences in the UK.
Ismail Menk is a Zimbabwean cleric.
Menk has described homosexuals as "worse than animals" and has advocated for strict gender segregation.
He has spoken at a number of British universities. In January 2024, he appeared before a packed crowd at London's ExCel Centre.
Menk has described homosexuals as "worse than animals" and has advocated for strict gender segregation.
He has spoken at a number of British universities. In January 2024, he appeared before a packed crowd at London's ExCel Centre.
Later this year, three Islamic speakers will tour the UK.
One of the speakers, Abu Bakr Zoud, has repeatedly praised martyrdom and has labelled Western democracies "godless societies". In 2022, he said that "every rainbow flag should come with a warning about anal cancer."
One of the speakers, Abu Bakr Zoud, has repeatedly praised martyrdom and has labelled Western democracies "godless societies". In 2022, he said that "every rainbow flag should come with a warning about anal cancer."
The second speaker, Ali Hammuda, has described Hamas as "resistance fighters", and has denied official reports of a massacre of Israeli civilians on October 7th 2023.
In July 2023, Hammuda hosted a 21-part series of lectures at the South Wales Islamic Centre.
In July 2023, Hammuda hosted a 21-part series of lectures at the South Wales Islamic Centre.
The third speaker, Jamal Abdinasir, is also a mainstay of the Muslim speaking circuit.
In 2023, he voiced his support for the "mujahideen", an Arabic term for warriors engaged in jihad.
Given what we know about these men, will the Home Office allow these events to go ahead?
In 2023, he voiced his support for the "mujahideen", an Arabic term for warriors engaged in jihad.
Given what we know about these men, will the Home Office allow these events to go ahead?
The list goes on and on.
Assim al-Hakeem is a Saudi cleric. He has described Jews as "devilish", has defended child marriage, and advocates for Wahhabist ideas about criminal justice and gender.
He spoke at the Green Lane Masjid in 2017, and at a London conference in 2018.
Assim al-Hakeem is a Saudi cleric. He has described Jews as "devilish", has defended child marriage, and advocates for Wahhabist ideas about criminal justice and gender.
He spoke at the Green Lane Masjid in 2017, and at a London conference in 2018.
Yasir Qadhi is a Pakistani-American scholar.
He has produced academic papers which provide justification for jihad. He has argued that Muslims should refuse to do business with people who don't conform to Islamic rules on sex and gender.
He spoke at the East London Mosque in 2023.
He has produced academic papers which provide justification for jihad. He has argued that Muslims should refuse to do business with people who don't conform to Islamic rules on sex and gender.
He spoke at the East London Mosque in 2023.
The list goes on and on.
Why have these figures been allowed to come to the UK, while Camus has been blocked?
Do we really believe that Camus' ideas about mass migration are more dangerous than Islamist ideas, which call for the destruction of the West?
Why have these figures been allowed to come to the UK, while Camus has been blocked?
Do we really believe that Camus' ideas about mass migration are more dangerous than Islamist ideas, which call for the destruction of the West?
You might disagree with Camus. You might find his views uncomfortable.
But hearing difficult views is the price that we pay to live in a society with free speech.
Why should he be banned from Britain, particularly when so many Islamists have been allowed to preach in the UK?
But hearing difficult views is the price that we pay to live in a society with free speech.
Why should he be banned from Britain, particularly when so many Islamists have been allowed to preach in the UK?
Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident.
In 2009, Dutch politician Geert Wilders was banned from the UK, after producing a film which criticised the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an.
His views were deemed "too dangerous" for the British public.
In 2009, Dutch politician Geert Wilders was banned from the UK, after producing a film which criticised the Prophet Muhammad and the Qur'an.
His views were deemed "too dangerous" for the British public.
Wilders' Freedom Party won 24% of the vote in the most recent Dutch election. The party now forms part of a coalition government - though Wilders does not sit as a minister.
I wonder if the Home Office would bar Wilders from Britain, if he attempted to visit today?
I wonder if the Home Office would bar Wilders from Britain, if he attempted to visit today?
The Camus case raises a number of questions.
Why is the Home Office so afraid of right-wing thinkers?
Why does it consider their beliefs too dangerous for the British public?
Why do our free speech protections extend to Islamists, but not anti-immigration voices?
Why is the Home Office so afraid of right-wing thinkers?
Why does it consider their beliefs too dangerous for the British public?
Why do our free speech protections extend to Islamists, but not anti-immigration voices?
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