Fred Phelps Banned in Britain

[Lemur]

Now i despise the Phelps family as much as anyone, but why is Britain suddenly banning people? First that Geert Wilders, now Phelps? Is the British way of life so fragile that allowing a couple of fruitbats in will destroy them?

Seriously, what gives?

A homophobic American cleric who runs a website called God Hates Fags and was allegedly planning to picket a play showing in the UK has been banned from Britain by the home secretary, Jacqui Smith.

Fred Phelps had vowed to come to Britain with his daughter, Shirley, to picket a school play in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that promotes tolerance for gay people. The play, The Laramie Project, depicts the murder of a homosexual teenager, #Matthew Shepard, in the Wyoming town in 1998. It will be staged tomorrow evening at Queen Mary's College. [...]

A posting on Phelps's companion website God Hates the World this week stated: "God hates England. Your Queen is a whore. You're going to hell." [...]

A UK Border Agency spokesman said: "The home secretary has excluded both Fred Phelps and his daughter from the UK. Both these individuals have engaged in unacceptable behaviour by inciting hatred against a number of communities.

"The government has made it clear it opposes extremism in all its forms. We will continue to stop those who want to spread extremism, hatred and violent messages in our communities from coming to our country … regardless of their opinions and beliefs."

[InsaneApache]

We banned George Raft as well.

[Jolt]

God Hates Fags What a comedy. This guy thinks he is entitled to know exactly what and who god hates or loves.

[LittleGrizzly]

People didn't like muslims saying a bunch of nasty things so we decided to cut down on it, everything after that is just for consistency...

[Crazed Rabbit]

From what I read in articles dealing with the whole Wilders controversy, Britain hasn't actually been throwing out that many violence preaching Imams.

CR

[English assassin]

why is Britain suddenly banning people?

"Ban" is our politicians favourite word.

Whilst I don't want to hear either Phelps or Wilders, I don't want them banned. Its a worrying sign of our increasingly unfree society.

Britain hasn't actually been throwing out that many violence preaching Imams

Its a little more complicated. We got to the party late, true. There has been rank hypocrisy in the past, largely on the left, which saw Muslims as an exciting source of status quo busting votes without thinking about the inevitability of a Muslim political identity developing or what it could look like. And there are issues that some of the Imams are British citizens, and so can't be thrown out (alas, Australia doesn't let us transport crims there any more), and others may be tortured or not get a fair trial if deported to certain countries (although the House of Lords gave a helpful judgement on that yesterday). But as things stand today I don't think an Imam equivalent of Wilders would be treated much differently.

[Rhyfelwyr]

They're just attention seekers, and well done to the government because you just gave them a whole lot more attention, do we never learn?

I think it goes without saying that the Phelps family don't represent Christians, it's almost like they're trying to sabotage Christianity from within.

[rory_20_uk]

There's no good news at the moment, so anything that can take focus away from the government is Good. Barring looneys is a great way of filling space - lest reporters get bored and focus more on the economy.

[Adrian II]

Its a little more complicated. We got to the party late, true. There has been rank hypocrisy in the past, largely on the left, which saw Muslims as an exciting source of status quo busting votes without thinking about the inevitability of a Muslim political identity developing or what it could look like.

Excuse me? Britain became Londonistan during the 1980's and 1990's when the Tories were in control.

It was Tory policy to leave terrorist organisations and their leaders untouched as long as they left Britain untouched and committed their crimes elsewhere, notably in France, the U.S. and other western allies of Britain. It is the most cowardly legacy of the Thatcher and Major years. It's failure became obvious when the 'security covenant' between the British government and people like Omar Bakri leaked in 1995. Oh, and of course the 'special relationship' with Saudi Arabia has something to do with it: Wahhabi agitation in Britain in exchange for lucrative business deals, such as the £20 billion Yamama deal of 1985. The Thatchers even had a personal stake in that one, if you'll remember. All in the interest of world peace no doubt.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Just for smoking a little pot? Please.

[Vladimir]

Just for smoking a little pot? Please.

That's what I thought at first. It makes sense with them banning a Dutchman though.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

For consistency's sake, I'm not sure I see much of a problem with Phelps being banned, considering I'd say he is quite a bit worse than Wilders.

To be completely honest, I hoped the Chinese would have done something while his little group was there for the Olympics. I can't imagine America demanding his return that seriously.

[Pannonian]

For consistency's sake, I'm not sure I see much of a problem with Phelps being banned, considering I'd say he is quite a bit worse than Wilders.

To be completely honest, I hoped the Chinese would have done something while his little group was there for the Olympics. I can't imagine America demanding his return that seriously.

I'd have thought that America would have demanded that the Chinese kept him there.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'd have thought that America would have demanded that the Chinese kept him there.

Quite. I wouldn't have minded that much.

Regardless, I'm caught here. I really don't like Fred Phelps - but I don't like Jackboot Jacqui very much either.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I'd have thought that America would have demanded that the Chinese kept him there.

Can't really DO that of course, he's a yank and therefore our responsibility, but oh did your comment give me a chuckle....

[Fragony]

Muahahaha what a sad, sad attempt to appear consistent

[rasoforos]

'The play, The Laramie Project, depicts the murder of a homosexual teenager, #Matthew Shepard, in the Wyoming town in 1998. It will be staged tomorrow evening at Queen Mary's College.

Phelps, who runs the Primitive Baptist Westboro church in Topeka, Kansas – most of whose congregation are members of his family, including his 13 children – has bought a plot of land in Laramie where he plans to build a memorial celebrating the murder, despite local opposition.'


End of story. Promoting and celebrating murder is a big no.


I wonder if he will ever go to jail for his nonsence. In the caring and safe environment of a correctional facility he will possibly see homosexuality from another point of view and appreciate it as a lifestyle if not as a sexual preference.


Edit: His website is a must-see :)

[Proletariat]

If you're an American advocating that China should be punishing any one person because of their idiotic views, either kick me out of the US or GTFO.

No pasaran!

[Fragony]

'The play, The Laramie Project, depicts the murder of a homosexual teenager, #Matthew Shepard, in the Wyoming town in 1998. It will be staged tomorrow evening at Queen Mary's College.

Phelps, who runs the Primitive Baptist Westboro church in Topeka, Kansas – most of whose congregation are members of his family, including his 13 children – has bought a plot of land in Laramie where he plans to build a memorial celebrating the murder, despite local opposition.'


End of story. Promoting and celebrating murder is a big no.

Changed my mind, it's good that he got banned. Banning Wilder's is a big no.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

It's a good thing your commitment to free speech is so strong, Frag...

[Fragony]

It's a good thing your commitment to free speech is so strong, Frag...

I draw the line at spreading hate, celebrating a murder on a homosexual teen you have got to be kidding me. A government who allows that isn't doing it's job: protecting it's citizins.

[rasoforos]

Hey he has a new 'God hates the UK' video...

[Adrian II]

I wonder if he will ever go to jail for his nonsence. In the caring and safe environment of a correctional facility he will possibly see homosexuality from another point of view and appreciate it as a lifestyle if not as a sexual preference.

Yes, let's control his mind through emprisonment and enforced buggering, that will surely make him a model citizen.

Like rasoforos.

Who isn't the least bit homophobic himself.

No Sir.

[rasoforos]

Yes, let's control his mind through imprisonment and enforced buggering, that will surely make him a model citizen.

Like rasoforos.

Who isn't the least bit homophobic himself.

No Sir.

Irony is apparently totally lost. I just think that this guy would totally freak out in prison.

Perhaps I should have pointed it out better that this was not my serious opinion but just an attempt to be ironic. Although I d appreciate it if you would inquire about the meaning of my post before launching personal accusations.

And no Sir I am not homophobic. Not a bit. Not ever.

[Crazed Rabbit]

And there are issues that some of the Imams are British citizens, and so can't be thrown out (alas, Australia doesn't let us transport crims there any more), and others may be tortured or not get a fair trial if deported to certain countries (although the House of Lords gave a helpful judgement on that yesterday). But as things stand today I don't think an Imam equivalent of Wilders would be treated much differently.

Ah, good to know.

Excuse me? Britain became Londonistan during the 1980's and 1990's when the Tories were in control.

It was Tory policy to leave terrorist organisations and their leaders untouched as long as they left Britain untouched and committed their crimes elsewhere, notably in France, the U.S. and other western allies of Britain. It is the most cowardly legacy of the Thatcher and Major years. It's failure became obvious when the 'security covenant' between the British government and people like Omar Bakri leaked in 1995. Oh, and of course the 'special relationship' with Saudi Arabia has something to do with it: Wahhabi agitation in Britain in exchange for lucrative business deals, such as the £20 billion Yamama deal of 1985. The Thatchers even had a personal stake in that one, if you'll remember. All in the interest of world peace no doubt.

I'm interested in this; do you have any links to good sources of information, or recommended reading?

Thanks,
CR

[Adrian II]

I'm interested in this; do you have any links to good sources of information, or recommended reading?

There is a whole lot of documentation on the episode. Just take it from here:

link
link
link

[Major Robert Dump]

Just for smoking a little pot? Please.

That made my day

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

I think the difference between Wilders and Phelps is that Wilders says others preach Hate, while Phelps clearly does preach it himself.

I confess however, that this event may have touched on me personnally, no doubt I will discover whether or not in the coming days, (I have friends in the area that might have been there had he attended, and would probably have made the effort knowing he was there.)

[Subotan]

This douche isn't worth the debate. To quote /b/, don't feed the trolls.

[Idaho]

Its a little more complicated. We got to the party late, true. There has been rank hypocrisy in the past, largely on the left, which saw Muslims as an exciting source of status quo busting votes without thinking about the inevitability of a Muslim political identity developing or what it could look like.

This is Clarksonesque fantasy. I suggest you look at the timings and reasons behind immigration in the 50's, 60's and 70's.