A leading Islamic scholar was reportedly banned from entering the UK for a speaking tour over comments related to his support for Palestine.
Dr Shadee Elmasry was set to arrive in Birmingham on Sunday for a three-day tour to Bolton and Ilford, organised by the Global Relief Trust. However, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood revoked his travel authorisation over "controversial" social media posts relating to the Gaza war and allegedly justifying Palestinian resistance.
"There is no place in the UK for foreign nationals who spread hate or push extremist ideas," a spokesperson for the Home Office told The New Arab when asked about Elmasry's ban.
"Anyone intent on stirring hatred or dividing our communities will not be allowed to enter the UK."
Responding to the ban, Dr Elmasry told The New Arab: "All I have to say is how ironic it is that I actually said nothing about England! So why are they upset?"
"It's bizarre when people fail to see how controlled they are."
The scholar has been vocal in denouncing Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip and disinformation on the subject. He has also pointed out the double standards taken by Western countries who back Israel's "right" to defend itself, despite 71,386 Palestinians being killed in Gaza and almost the entire population of the enclave being displaced.
Following the 7 October attacks in southern Israel, Dr Elmasry wrote: "They [Western commentators] are all in this (fake or real) state of shock that the people of Gaza finally punched back (after 50 years)."
"In contrast, the very same people would celebrate a similar kind of attack from Ukraine against Putin, ignoring the fact that Israel has committed far worse things against Palestinians than what Russia did to Ukraine."
"Forget all of that, when our own nation wants more resources (not justice), it destroys entire regions in wars that last 20 years."
Dr Elmasry's ban came after Conservative MP Nick Timothy made a call for the scholar to be prevented from entering the UK, claiming that allowing him to speak was "giving a platform to incitement and violent extremism".
He also called on the Home Secretary to "exclude foreign nationals whose presence here would not be conducive to the public good".
The Jerusalem Post also reported on the "pro-Hamas" comments made by the scholar a day before his visa was revoked.
The move was praised by the pro-Israeli group North West Friends of Israel, saying the home secretary has "once again shown her commitment to protecting the UK's Jewish community".
While the Labour minister has made pro-Palestine sentiments in the past and called for recognition of Palestine, the secretary has since changed her stance, including abstaining on a key ceasefire vote in November 2023.
Mahmood also sparked outrage after claiming to have never heard of the Arabic name "Jihad" after learning the name of the attacker behind the Manchester synagogue attack was Jihad al-Shamie.
The home secretary had also cancelled the visa of Pakistani influencer Tuaha Ibn Jalil, who runs a Muslim youth club in Pakistan, was meant to speak at mosques, community centres, a university and a school after calling for "jihad", which means "struggle" against Israel.