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Let the American anti-Quran pastor visit Britain

Theresa May is being urged to ban him. Free speech demands she shouldn’t.

By Sholto Byrnes Published 12 December 2010 11:55

I'm sure we all remember Terry Jones, the Florida pastor with a novel and bracing approach to interfaith dialogue – he's the one who thought the best way to mark the anniversary of the 11 September 2001 attacks this year was to declare it "International Burn a Quran Day" (although only, as you'll notice if you look at the poster he had made, between 6pm and 9pm).

The English Defence League has announced that Pastor Jones is due to address an event in Luton in February "on the evils and destructiveness of Islam". As a result, as today's Observer reports, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, is now "under intense pressure" to ban him from Britain.

The views of the EDL should be perfectly clear by now, as should the group's low opinion of Islam. (For those who require clarification, this report by my colleague Daniel Trilling, "God bless the Muslims. They'll need it when they're burning in effing hell", should suffice.)

As for Pastor Jones: although on one level his physical similarity to the hicks and halfwits who populate the town of Rock Ridge in Mel Brooks's Blazing Saddles inclines one not to take him too seriously, there was nothing remotely amusing about his hate-filled proposal, nor about the international furore it caused, earning him the condemnation of the US state department, the Vatican and the US army in Afghanistan.

Is he a welcome visitor? No, of course not. Neither was the Dutch politician Geert Wilders when he came to Britain in March. I find it sickening, and distressing, too, that they should propagate such an extreme and distorted picture of Islam – just as I find it sickening and distressing that there are some Muslim clerics who do the same.

But I am also alarmed at the alacrity with which many then jump to saying that this person or that – in this case Pastor Jones – should be refused entry into the UK. The Labour MP Jon Cruddas says, "We should not allow racial hatred to be whipped up in this manner in our country" and promises to table a parliamentary motion to ban Jones tomorrow, while the Hope Not Hate campaign has set up a petition to stop him coming.

I understand the feeling behind this, but it's just too easy a response – and a dangerous one, too. The same kind of sentiment lay behind the outrage when it became clear that Nick Griffin was to appear on Question Time. These opinions are repulsive, disgusting, beyond the pale – let's ban them.

But 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?

I was absolutely for Griffin's right to appear on the Question Time panel, for instance, because he is the leader of a perfectly legal party (one for which over half a million people voted in this year's general election and nearly a million in last year's Euro elections) and an elected MEP. You cannot have one set of rules – still less laws – for "acceptable" parties and another for those we deem "unacceptable".

Griffin, however, is a British citizen, so there is no question of not letting him into the country. What of Pastor Jones? According to today's Observer: "The Home Secretary has the power to exclude or deport an individual if she thinks their presence in the UK could threaten national security, public order or the safety of citizens. She can also do so if she believes their views glorify terrorism, promote violence or encourage other serious crime."

Clearly Jones is not a threat to national security: but endangering "public order" and "the safety of citizens"? I find it rather unsettling that the Home Secretary is expected to justify excluding a citizen of a friendly country by using the kind of vague wording that authoritarian regimes the world over use to stifle free speech. It is clear, too, that this "Man of God" does not explicitly "glorify terrorism" or "promote violence".

We consider him to be distasteful, for sure, uncivilised, uncouth, the possessor of barbaric and ignorant views. But if we value free speech at all, those can never be reasons enough to ban him. David Allen Green recently pointed out on The Staggers for the NS that when the Quran-burning (non-)event became noticed, creating huge anger that could have put Americans abroad in harm's way, "even though it was plausible to contend that Pastor Jones was creating a clear danger to others, he was not arrested. It was the persuasive and not the coercive power of the US government which was deployed to stop the gesture happening." He then asked: "What would happen in the United Kingdom?"

We shall see when Theresa May chooses to act or not. One may well ask, as we are at it, why it is that we are so concerned with restricting people's free speech while the legislation that exists to punish them, should that expression constitute incitement to racial or religious hatred, is so rarely used. Surely that is the wrong way around?

So, say I: let Pastor Jones come to Britain, and if his speech breaks any law, then throw the book at him. Make it clear that such laws truly afford the mighty protection of the state to those they are meant to shield. But if his words do not, then I would ask this:

What has anyone to fear from a man so confused and deluded that, before his Quran-burning stunt, he could seriously declare that its aim was "to send a message to the moderate Muslims to stay peaceful and moderate"?

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Tags: civil liberties

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35 comments

Sun, 2010-12-12 12:30 — Ricardo1

Hear Hear!

Any attempts to ban him and the EDL will start to whinge about their freedom being eroded. Let him come. Let him burn books if so wishes. Let them see what freedom is like. But let them know this: The freedom to worship Islam is just as important as any other freedom we hold dear.

I say we give them enough rope!

Sun, 2010-12-12 12:31 — Dave C (not verified)

The English Defence League have made this invitation to provoke, just as all their demonstrations are to just to provoke.

Given the likelihood of a counter-demonstration and the English Defence League's taste for violence, Theresa May will have a difficult decision.

Sun, 2010-12-12 12:47 — Sam (not verified)

I agree with Dave C. It's a clever PR move on the EDL's part. If Theresa May bans him it will get publicity. If he comes here it will probably get publicity as he's a comical character.

Sun, 2010-12-12 13:08 — CardoCardo

I totally agree with the first three posters here. Theresa May is damned whatever decision she makes. Probably best to let him come but the moment he says anything that incites racial/religious hatred or violence rather than simple expression of a difference in religious views then arrest and deport him rapidly.

Mon, 2010-12-13 12:07 — shoestrade52

========= http://www.1shopping.us/ =========

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

========= http://www.1shopping.us/ =========

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

========= http://www.1shopping.us/ =========

Wed, 2010-12-15 10:04 — Elizabeth (not verified)

"Let this brave and decent man in to the shithole we now call the uk. i for one welcome you pastor jones and hope you continue with your teaching against the satanic religion muslims worship. a good muslim is a dead one." Gary

Do you mean this bastion of liberal common sense, tolerance and peace that you as a proud and useful patriot clearly emblematize?

Sun, 2010-12-12 13:42 — zsremrxc

If he was a vastly wealthy individual then he would find that he is welcome,as it is he has more ideas than money so he is not welcomed by our damned to hell government...as far as I am concerned he is welcome until the day they remove all his and my enemies from this broken country.

Sun, 2010-12-12 14:00 — Richard (not verified)

By hating hate you become it.

A kinder kind loves love.

^.-

Sun, 2010-12-12 14:07 — swatantra

Let him come! And let him face the wrath of the enlightened silent majority that cannot stomach the extremes of religious hatred. But the chances are that he will chicken out, just as he did with his promised Koran book burning. The burning of a book should have no effect on the stauch and resolute in their faith; their hearts cannot be burned. Only the doubters and the zealots out to prove their faith will be goaded into a reaction. Neither can mere cartoons of Mohamad affect the resolute in faith.

Thu, 2010-12-16 17:51 — Barney Resson (not verified)

The author of the original article demonstrates a typically muddle-headed and ignorant attitude toward Islam. Anyone can be guilty of "inciting violence" if the violence is a gut reaction to truth. In this Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was guilty of inciting violence!
In good company Pastor Jones and Geert Wilders find themselves in critiquing Islam, there are such individuals as Dante, Voltaire, John Stuart Mill, Winston Churchill ..

A challenge to all good readers: name an act of depravity and it will be possible to find a Koranic verse or Haddith that show Mohammed indulged in it!

Terry Jones' message to "moderate Muslims" - remain ignorant of the true teachings of Islam and ignore its commands to aggressively spread its message (jihad) - seems to me to be excellent counsel.

Mon, 2010-12-13 12:45 — Max (not verified)

Wouldn't life be nice if at some point muslims and Africans sat up and said,

" Heh, you know what, I don't think Im wanted here, Im gonna leave as it would be really rude to stay where Im not wanted ".

It will never happen of course. But to any muslims and Africans reading, question why are you are so disliked in every country in the west you come to ? People are not born racist, remember that and take your blame.

Sun, 2010-12-19 16:00 — Tim Urry (not verified)

"Free speech demands she shouldn't."
Trouble is, it is not free speech, it's bloody expensive speech. If he comes it will provoke demonstrations of mobs both pro and anti, which in turn will require a massive security presence, paid for by the council tax payers of any town unfortunate enough to be visited by the idiot. Does anyone seriously suggest that the mans opinions and teachings are informed and enlightened enough to be worth the expenditure.

Wed, 2010-12-15 13:06 — Blaine McCartney (not verified)

Whilst I don't agree with the pastor's fundamentalism, nevermind superstition or wish thinking on the whole, it's an odd situation where it is only our demagogues recognising the danger of Islam (whilst conveniently ignoring the dangers of their own superstitions I might add.)

Sun, 2010-12-12 16:44 — Miss (not verified)

I agree with the above posts. Let him come. One man who feels the need to burn a book to make his point isn't one that I will ever respect. Knowledge is power. People in Luton should allow him to come, let him protest (freedom of speech and everything) be civil and let him moan. Nothing will result from giving him any publicity.

Sun, 2010-12-12 16:46 — bbai69

========= http://shopping01.org =========

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

========= http://shopping01.org =========

Mon, 2010-12-13 13:35 — lusina

If Terry Jones was visiting a Muslim country his survival would be very much in doubt. Probably, he would be allowed in the country for one reason only - to eliminate him from the face of the earth. That's how they deal with such things over there. But Britain being an ancient democratic country, should allow him in and the authorities should take all the necessary precautions to ensure his safety in order to allow free speech, free thinking, free assembly and free movement. Tessa should forget her natural inclinations to ban him.

Fri, 2010-12-17 03:09 — rarian_rakista

At least the EDL has psuedo-intellectual pretensions instead of calling out for people's heads like in Russia right now. Be glad your native bigots aren't batshit violent nutters anymore and have gone off the deep end to the muttering to themselves and soon eating their own poo stage.

Wed, 2010-12-15 14:58 — swss

What a bore some of you people are. Islam thinks itself superior to other religions? How is that unique to Islam? And it certainly isn't exempt from criticism, but it is telling that people feel the need to attack Islam in the comments section of an article which is about hatred and intolerance towards religion. The number of unprincipled trolls that haunt this website is staggering.

Sun, 2010-12-12 17:34 — Luddite (not verified)

Why is Islam exempt from critical analysis? In Western society, there is no shortage of critics of Christianity. Indeed, on many college campuses it is open season on anything that has the faint odor of Western Civilization -- Christianity included -- even though Christianity, like Islam, originated in the Middle East . One might wonder why Islam, which sees itself as a continuation or fulfillment of Judeo-Christianity, is not subject to the same intense criticism. Instead, multi-culturalism treats Islam as a protected species -- an indigenous ethos inseparable from a people. Consequently, self-appointed Politically Correct thought-police stifle debate on Islam by shamelessly playing the race card -- even though Islam is not a race.

Sun, 2010-12-12 18:04 — llog622

========= http://clothesmall.org =========

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

========= http://clothesmall.org =========

Tue, 2010-12-14 00:24 — Rongoklunk (not verified)

Religion is the problem. Crazy folk fighting over which kind of God they think exists, and what He demands of Earthlings - as if anyone would ever know.
One of these days some religious nutcase is going to blow us all the Hell for some God who doesn't even exist.
Belief made sense when we were all ignorant and superstitious and still lived in caves. But this is 2010 and the Enlightenment was a long time ago. We know better now. Gods don't actually exist. They are mythical beings by definition.

Wed, 2010-12-15 16:59 — Elizabeth (not verified)

"The number of unprincipled trolls that haunt this website is staggering." swss

I coudn't agree more. So what was it you wanted to say about either Islam, fire and brimstone Christianity, religion generally, religious hatred or whether or not Jones should be allowed to come here to preach his preferred version of it, in the context of his own religious superiority?

Wed, 2010-12-15 17:03 — Elizabeth (not verified)

"The number of unprincipled trolls that haunt this website is staggering." swss

I couldn't agree more. So what was it you wanted to say about free speech, Islam, fire and brimstone Christianity, religion generally, religious hatred, or whether or not Jones should be allowed to come her to preach his preferred version of it, in the context of the mind-numbing 'superiority' of his own religion?

Sun, 2010-12-12 18:35 — Riaz Ahmad

Bin Ladin will love this man, he is the best recruitment agent who will swell Al-Qiada membership far better than Bin Ladin; and all for free.

Sun, 2010-12-12 19:24 — michaelpetek

Terry Jones is inclined to burn the Qur'an.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi is in favour of burning Jews.

Which of them stands the better chance of being admitted into the UK for tea and canapes with Ken Livingstone?

Wed, 2010-12-15 19:31 — Luddite (not verified)

Given the recent worldwide attacks by Islamic terrorists, why isn't the question "Is Islam evil?" With few exceptions ( Turkey , for example), Islamic countries are fascist, autocratic or theocratic, where women are subjugated and minorities persecuted. Islamic countries are rife with poverty and have been for centuries. Polls show that in many Islamic countries a majority of Muslims lionize the man responsible for the atrocities of September 11th and the terrorist gangs who routinely slaughter civilians in Israeli buses and restaurants. In Arab schools and on Arab television, children are taught the glory of becoming suicide bombers. Almost everywhere that Islam borders other cultures, there is violence.

Mon, 2010-12-13 02:24 — stuart (not verified)

thats the trouble michealpeteuk with this issue over terry jones and the mindblowing hypocrisy by the so called anti fascist far left like ken livingstone and his cronies who have openly invited at the taxpayers expence the most vile anti semtic,homophobic racist hate preachers from the muslim world to speak and spew out there filth then shake there rattle at anybody who opposes the muslims radicals as racists and fascists,these people are so full of double standards you could not make it up.

Tue, 2010-12-14 17:12 — steffaction

"a good muslim is a dead one."

How's that open comments policy working out for you, New Statesman?

Tue, 2010-12-14 17:29 — Elizabeth (not verified)

No. Don't let him come. Tell him to keep his simple-minded and loud-mouthed religious notions amongst his own coterie of nutcases. We might consider sending the same message to the other know-nothing pretenders who seeks to impose a diverse range of empty religious views on us, attacking each other in the process.

Jones is not seeking religious peace with his damn fool ideas, quite the opposite - he is just asserting that his own loopy ideology is preferable to Islam.

Tue, 2010-12-14 17:33 — 1R4M

Dr Zakir Naik is banned form coming to the UK
for supposedly inciting hatred

whereas this guys
HAS incited hatred
and is STILL allowed to come

thats not hypocritical at all...

Mon, 2010-12-13 04:55 — lcal

========= http://clothesmall.org =========

Best regards for you all,

Looking forward to your visiting.

========= http://clothesmall.org =========

Mon, 2010-12-13 05:05 — Gary (not verified)

Let this brave and decent man in to the shithole we now call the uk. i for one welcome you pastor jones and hope you continue with your teaching against the satanic religion muslims worship. a good muslim is a dead one.

Thu, 2010-12-16 07:40 — Luddite (not verified)

Christians and Jews are called "People of the Book" in the Koran, and as such are allowed to live and practice their religion in subjugation. Polytheists, atheists, pagans and idolaters aren't so lucky: they must convert or be killed. One of history's bloodiest atrocities, prior to the 20th Century, took place during the Muslim conquest of India. Hindus were massacred wholesale. India’s Buddhists, no military and political threat to anyone, were virtually wiped out. The vast destruction of Buddhist buildings, art and culture was a terrible loss to history

Mon, 2010-12-13 06:07 — bob23bob (not verified)

Islam is viewed by it's followers as superior to Judaism and Christianity. These last two are considered flawed and corrupt religions with Islam as the correction. Any appeasement toward Islam and followers is therefore taken as a sign they are right and the Non-Muslim's acknowledgement of that fact. Westerners think all religions and cultures are equal, Muslims will never even ponder that possibility because Islam has thought them of its own superiority. Buckingham Palace has been built with the sole purpose that it eventually will be handed over to Islam, the same goes for anything else in the world, not a single Muslim is allowed to doubt this theory.

Terry Jones is right about Islam.