Hate preachers from countries like Pakistan to be blocked from entering UK

Under new plans being prepared by the government, hate preachers with radical Islamist ideas from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will not be allowed to enter Britain, according to a report in the UK media on Sunday.

According to “The Daily Telegraph,” officials have been assigned to identify the most dangerous foreign radicals so that their names can be placed to visa warning lists. This comes amid concerns from the British government about a “shocking increase” in extremist activity. Those on the list will automatically be denied entrance into the UK under the new plans.

Days prior, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that the nation’s democratic and multifaith ideals were in danger during an ardent speech from the podium at 10 Downing Street in London.

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“We will also act to prevent people entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values,” Sunak said in his speech on Friday.

“The Home Secretary has instructed that if those here on visas choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people we will remove their right to be here,” he added.

Sunak had also urged protesters protesting against the Israel-Hamas conflict to make sure their efforts are not misinterpreted by radicals.

“The time has now come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison. We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart,” he said, warning that “Islamist extremists and the far right feed off and embolden each other”.

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On Saturday, thousands of people participated in yet another round of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the streets, and the Metropolitan Police made 12 arrests for disturbing the peace in London.

As per the media, an official assessment conducted by Lord Walney, the government’s independent consultant on political violence and disturbance, urges ministers to address the increasing danger presented by fringe, Left-wing organizations that have partnered with Islamist extremists during pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout the United Kingdom.

“One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-Left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far right… You are seeing an unholy alliance between far-Left groups and some of the Islamist extremism that has been seen on the marches,” he told the newspaper.

Walney’s report is with the UK Home Office and is due to be published later this month.

“Extremism has no place in our society and we will not tolerate tactics that set out to intimidate, threaten or cause disruption to the law-abiding majority,” a Home Office spokesperson said.

“In recent months, we have also witnessed a small number of protestors display violent and hateful behaviour, and the police have our full support in tackling extremism and hate crime. We are considering the report’s recommendations extremely carefully and will respond in due course,” the spokesperson said.

(With agency inputs)