We are pleased that Home Secretary Theresa May is “actively looking” into banning Pastor Terry Jones from entering Britain as was reported earlier this month.

The “National burn the Koran day” in the US that Jones threatened to organise earlier this year, was one of the clearest indicators to date of the way Islamophobia is sweeping away cherished values and freedoms of a liberal society as well as stirring up racial hatred.

Although the planned event did not go ahead, it sparked a chain of Qur’an burning incidents in the US and also in Britain.

Britain has nothing to gain and an awful lot to lose from allowing Terry Jones to enter the country. There can only be one outcome from such a visit – incitement to religious and racial hatred, and possible violence against our Muslim, Black Asian and ethnic minority communities.

The talk of a ban and the level of public response seems to have forced the English Defence League to withdraw the invitation for him to address their ‘demonstration’ in Luton next year  – although this hate-filled event will go ahead.

But Terry Jones still intends to come to Britain.

The Home Secretary should have no hesitation in issuing a ban on him entering the country, and thereby support the rights and liberties of us all to live free of fear, incitement to hatred and intimidation.

Ken Livingstone

Claude Moraes MEP

Anas Altikriti Spokesperson, British Muslim Initiative

Dr. Alamin Belhaj Muslim Association of Britain

Billy Hayes General Secretary, Communication Workers Union

Diana Holland Asst General Secretary, Unite the Union

Bruce Kent Vice Chair, One Society Many Cultures

Mohammed Kozbar  Project Director, Islam Expo

Rabbi Lee Wax President, Interreligious Conference of European Women Theologians

Cllr Salma Yaqoob

Sabby Dhalu  National Secretary, Unite Against Fascism

Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition

Pastor Terry Jones is preparing to visit Britain in February.

Lobby your MP and the Home Secretary to ban him from entering the country: public.enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

Contact  your local MP here: http://www.theyworkforyou.com/

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