LONDON (Dec. 13) -- Terry Jones, the firebrand Florida preacher who threatened to burn copies of the Koran on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, could be banned from visiting Britain.
Jones has been invited to speak about the "evils of Islam" at an event run by the English Defense League (EDL) -- a far-right, anti-Islamic group headed by former soccer hooligans -- in the U.K. in February. However, British Home Secretary Theresa May said this weekend that she was "actively" considering whether to block the controversial Gainesville, Fla., pastor from entering the country.
"Pastor Terry Jones has been on my radar for a few months now," May, who has the power to bar foreign nationals from entering Britain on national security grounds or to prevent breaches of public order, told Sky News. "If it is now clear that he's definitely coming to the U.K., then of course this is a case that I will be actively looking at."
May previously used these powers in June to ban radical Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, who argues that "every Muslim should be a terrorist," from giving a series of lectures in England.
Speaking to BBC radio this morning, Jones said he would resist any attempt by the British government to prevent his visit. "I don't know if I would just simply accept that. I think I would protest that," he said. "I would hope that that would not be the case, because I have given my word that we will not do anything against the law or do anything that would cause an uprising or violence."
Despite sparking international controversy over his plan to stage a mass burning of the Koran on Sept. 11 -- he called off the stunt on Sept. 10 -- Jones insisted he would be a moderating influence on the EDL, which has been connected to a series of violent protests and attacks on police. "If I am there and have anything to say and any type of influence, I will definitely demand that we have a peaceful demonstration or a peaceful rally," he said. "I do not advocate violence of any form."
However, the EDL's decision to invite Jones to speak at a rally in Luton -- a town with a large Muslim population, located 30 miles north of London -- is sure to cause anger among locals. The last demonstration by the group in the town, in May 2009, saw some 250 EDL supporters rampage through a South Asian neighborhood, attacking people and property.
Jones has been invited to speak about the "evils of Islam" at an event run by the English Defense League (EDL) -- a far-right, anti-Islamic group headed by former soccer hooligans -- in the U.K. in February. However, British Home Secretary Theresa May said this weekend that she was "actively" considering whether to block the controversial Gainesville, Fla., pastor from entering the country.
"Pastor Terry Jones has been on my radar for a few months now," May, who has the power to bar foreign nationals from entering Britain on national security grounds or to prevent breaches of public order, told Sky News. "If it is now clear that he's definitely coming to the U.K., then of course this is a case that I will be actively looking at."
May previously used these powers in June to ban radical Indian Muslim preacher Zakir Naik, who argues that "every Muslim should be a terrorist," from giving a series of lectures in England.
Speaking to BBC radio this morning, Jones said he would resist any attempt by the British government to prevent his visit. "I don't know if I would just simply accept that. I think I would protest that," he said. "I would hope that that would not be the case, because I have given my word that we will not do anything against the law or do anything that would cause an uprising or violence."
Despite sparking international controversy over his plan to stage a mass burning of the Koran on Sept. 11 -- he called off the stunt on Sept. 10 -- Jones insisted he would be a moderating influence on the EDL, which has been connected to a series of violent protests and attacks on police. "If I am there and have anything to say and any type of influence, I will definitely demand that we have a peaceful demonstration or a peaceful rally," he said. "I do not advocate violence of any form."
However, the EDL's decision to invite Jones to speak at a rally in Luton -- a town with a large Muslim population, located 30 miles north of London -- is sure to cause anger among locals. The last demonstration by the group in the town, in May 2009, saw some 250 EDL supporters rampage through a South Asian neighborhood, attacking people and property.
