UK mulling Raed Salah's expulsion

London's Immigration Tribunal finds Salah guilty of 'fostering hatred' says his presence in Britain 'could lead to inter-community violence'

Ynet |Published: 10.27.11 , 12:50

Britain is considering banishing Head of the Islamic Movement Sheikh Raed Salah over what a London court called "fostering hatred."

According to a Thursday report in the Daily Mail, London's Immigration Tribunal noted that the radical preacher's presence in the UK could "lead to inter-community violence."

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Salah was barred for entering Britain in June, but defied the order. He was arrested three days after entering the country and was later granted bail, and order to wear an electronic tag.

The decision to expel Salah is considered a personal victory for Home Secretary Theresa May, who accused him of "virulent anti-Semitism." May said Salah's extremist statements meant his presence in the UK was not in the public's interest.

The 52-year-old cleric's defense team insisted that expelling him would violate Article 10 of the UK's Human Rights Act, which guarantees the right to free speech.

The Immigration Tribunal's ruling stressed that Salah's expulsion was a matter of public interest due to his "unacceptable behavior": "We are satisfied that the appellant’s words and actions tend to be inflammatory, divisive, insulting, and likely to foment tension and radicalism," the court said.

Salah was given several days to appeal to London's High Court and then another 72 hours before he can be deported.