Would you want Pastor Terry Jones to visit your country?
| 09:46 UK time, Monday, 13 December 2010
This time, it's because he's accepted an invitation by the to speak at a rally in Luton next year. (By coincidence, Luton was the home of the suicide bomber who this weekend attacked the Swedish capital Stockholm.)
Pastor Jones' explains why he wants to visit the UK:
During the protest, Dr Terry Jones will speak against the evils and destructiveness of Islam in support of the continued fight against the Islamification of England and Europe.
In an , Pastor Jones said that his book Islam Is Of The Devil is "a truthful message" but added that he would "not cause violence" if he comes. (It may be worth noting that rallies by the English Defence League do have a history of attracting violence).
While the English Defence League's has no outright mission statement, topics on their include "The Utter Ruthlessness of Islam," "Islam and the Mafia - amazing similarities" and "The Church of Adolf Hitler."
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The first time I have heard this man speaking and I was surprised not to be met with the hardcore nutjob I was expecting. He actually said that moderate Muslims are welcome, just not the sort who call for the Queen to either convert to Islam or be expelled.
His right to appear in the UK has also been defended in the left-leaning publication the New Statesman, where of "These opinions are repulsive, disgusting, beyond the pale - let's ban them."
Ban what exactly? You can't ban a viewpoint, at least not from being held in an individual's mind. And if the public, verbal or written expression of that viewpoint contravenes no laws, on what grounds would you curtail it?
However, Labour Party MP Jon Cruddas has :
"The refusal to ban the pastor of a hitherto obscure church with a following of fewer than 50 people does not represent a mortal blow to the debate about the merits of Islam...Jones has nothing to offer except lighter fuel and malign intent. But we know what sits on the other side of the debit sheet. Mass disorder. Communities divided on racial and religious lines. Intolerance. Violence. Entire towns rent asunder."
The group Hope Not Hate has now aimed at persuading the UK Home Secretary Theresa May from allowing Pastor Jones in, saying that "He will attract and encourage thousands of EDL supporters to take to the streets, and cause concern and fear among Muslims across the country."
So what do you think? Would you welcome Pastor Jones into your country? Should he be free to say what he likes to the people of the UK? Or do you think it would be better if he stayed at home?
