Following Trump’s call for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” a UK petition began circulating to prevent him from entering Britain.
It gathered over 570,000 signatures, passing the required threshold for mandatory parliamentary debate.
The irony wasn’t lost on observers – the hypocrisy of denouncing Trump’s opposition to Muslim immigration in America while voting up or down on banning his entry to Britain – along with attacking his free expression right, no matter how offensive.
A Trump Organization statement said “Westminster would create a dangerous precedent and send a terrible message to the world that the United Kingdom opposes free speech and has no interest in attracting inward investment.”
“This would also alienate the many millions of United States citizens who wholeheartedly support Mr, Trump and have made him the forerunner by far in the 2016 presidential election.”
“Many people now agree with Mr. Trump that there is a serious problem that must be resolved. This can only be achieved if we are willing discuss these tough issues openly and honestly.”
MPs won’t ban Trump or any other prominent American from entering Britain. An official government statement said the following:
“For good reasons the Government does not routinely comment on individual immigration and exclusion decisions.”
“The Home Secretary may exclude a non-European Economic Area national from the UK if she considers their presence in the UK to be non-conducive to the public good.”
“The Home Secretary has said that coming to the UK is a privilege and not a right and she will continue to use the powers available to prevent from entering the UK those who seek to harm our society and who do not share our basic values.”
“Exclusion powers are very serious and are not used lightly. The Home Secretary will use these powers when justified and based on all available evidence.”
“The Prime Minister has made clear that he completely disagrees with Donald Trump’s remarks. The Home Secretary has said that Donald Trump’s remarks in relation to Muslims are divisive, unhelpful and wrong.”
“The Government recognises the strength of feeling against the remarks and will continue to speak out against comments which have the potential to divide our communities, regardless of who makes them. We reject any attempts to create division and marginalisation amongst those we endeavour to protect.”
Prime Minister David Cameron blasted what he called Trump’s “hate speech.” Home Secretary Theresa May denounced his offensive remarks.
The uncomfortable reality in Britain went unmentioned. Most individuals banned from entering the country are Muslims, including Hamas Palestinian Legislative Council member Yunis Al-Astal – solely for political reasons in deference to Israel.
He’s wrongfully accused of “engaging in unacceptable behavior by seeking to foment, justify or glorify terrorist violence in furtherance of particular beliefs and to provoke others to terrorist acts.”
Islamophobia is rife in Britain, throughout Europe and America. War on Islam rages. Muslims are public enemy No. 1, portrayed as dangerous gun-toting terrorists, blamed for false flag terror attacks.
Britain continues partnering with Washington’s endless wars on Muslim countries, responsible for millions of deaths, mass destruction and unspeakable human misery.
Cameron’s regime shuns desperate Muslim refugees and asylum seekers, victims of US-led imperial wars, indifferent to their suffering.
Instead of debating whether Trump should be banned from Britain, a nonbinding resolution if passed, UK parliamentarians should denounce US-led imperial wars, refusing any longer to partner in them.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago. He can be reached at [email protected].
His new book as editor and contributor is titled “Flashpoint in Ukraine: US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III.”
http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html
Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com.
Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.
It airs three times weekly: live on Sundays at 1PM Central time plus two prerecorded archived programs.
