A controversial American Islamist preacher, who has publicly praised Hamas and is accused of spreading antisemitic views, is scheduled to arrive in Britain next weekend, prompting urgent calls for the Home Secretary to revoke his visa.
Tour Details and Controversial Associations
Lebanese-born Mohamed Baajour, a long-term US resident, is due to embark on a three-day speaking tour across the UK, with events planned in London, Manchester, and Leicester. The tour is sponsored by the charitable organisation Muslim Aid.
One notable venue is Didsbury Mosque in Manchester, where the Manchester Arena suicide bomber, Salman Abedi, and his family worshipped before the 2017 attack. Baajour serves as the director of education at the East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC) in Texas, an organisation recently investigated after Texas Governor Greg Abbott accused it of wanting to enforce Sharia law. EPIC has denied any wrongdoing, stating it is a law-abiding non-profit.
Record of Extremist Rhetoric and Links
Baajour's planned visit follows a pattern of concerning rhetoric. In recorded lectures, he has lamented 'Zionist interference', praised Hamas fighters as 'mujahideen', and stated that 'every true Muslim would love to have such a death' in reference to Palestinians killed in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
He is closely associated with EPIC cleric Yasir Qadhi, who has a decades-long record of preaching homophobia, hatred, and Holocaust denial. Qadhi has previously called for the execution of gay people and adulterers and made antisemitic claims about Jewish influence in US universities.
Political Pressure and Precedent
Nick Timothy, the Conservative MP for West Suffolk, has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, demanding Baajour be barred from entering the country. Timothy argued that while free speech is vital, providing a platform for those who 'actively promote violence and spread hate' is not legitimate discourse.
He also called for Muslim Aid and similar groups facilitating such tours to be stripped of their charitable status. This case comes just days after the Home Secretary revoked the visa of another US-based Islamic scholar, Dr Shadee Elmasry, for praising Hamas and suggesting Israel was behind the 9/11 attacks.
The government now faces renewed pressure to demonstrate its commitment to preventing extremists from entering the UK, balancing security concerns with principles of free speech and open debate.
