Government to disclose clampdown on hate-preachers

Preachers of hate who have been banned from the UK will be refused entry to the country forever unless they make a public renunciation saying they no longer preach violent extremism, the Government will announce today. 

Jacqui Smith will tell MPs that foreigners could be banned from the country forever unless they can persuade the Government they are no longer preaching hate. 

The moves will affect Islamic exremists and others, including neo-Nazis and animal rights activists. 

A total of 230 people have been excluded from entering the country since August 2005 on suspicion that they are a threat to national security or foster and promote extremism.  

Among those barred from coming into the UK are 79 individuals, including preachers of hate, barred for "unacceptable" behaviours. 

Ms Smith will tell MPs: "I am determined to stop those who foster, encourage or spread extremism and hatred through preaching violent messages in our communities from coming to the UK. 

"These tough new measures will clamp down on those people intent on stirring up tensions by encouraging violence and hatred in our country by preventing them entering the UK. 

"Coming to the UK is a privilege and I don't want to extend that privilege to individuals who abuse our standards and values to undermine our way of life." 

The changing of the rules on foreigners who have been barred will give the Home Office the right to publicly identify, or 'name and shame,' those it has decided should not enter the country. 

In the past, people banned from the country, including hate-preacher Omar Bakri Mohammed and American Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, only became known about when they spoke out against their ban. 

Those who are named will also be put on international "watch lists" enabling them to be stopped from entering other countries. 

Mr Farrakhan has been barred for over 20 years for expressing racist and anti-Semitic views. 

Self-styled "sheikh" Omar Bakri Mohammed, banned in 2005 after flying to his native Lebanon, ran the al-Muhajiroun group from north London. 

Under the new rules, the Home Secretary will consider in all future cases whether it would be in the national interest to reveal publicly that an individual has been excluded. 

Their activities in preaching hate will be outlined and passed to immigration authorities to ensure that any future visa application is considered with full regard to their past behaviour. continues here

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