Source:
GuardianTheresa May pressed to halt visit by anti-Muslim US preacher
Pastor who threatened to burn Qur'an plans to address far-right English Defence League in February
Toby Helm and Mark Townsend guardian.co.uk,
Saturday 11 December 2010 21.30 GMT
Home secretary Theresa May is under intense pressure to ban controversial anti-Muslim preacher Terry Jones from Britain after far-right activists said he had agreed to address them at a demonstration about "the evils of Islam".
The English Defence League said it was "proud to announce" that the US pastor, who caused outrage with plans to burn the Qur'an on this year's anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, would be attending the event in Luton in early February. Today Jones confirmed that he would be arriving in the UK. The pastor's website said he intended to visit the EDLs' "biggest demonstration to date" in February. The website said: "During the protest, Dr Terry Jones will speak against the evils and destructiveness of Islam in support of the continued fight against the Islamification of England and Europe."
Barack Obama warned in September that Jones's planned Qur'an burnings would be a "recruitment bonanza" for al-Qaida and the US state department said it would put the country's citizens at risk across the world.
Tonight the British anti-extremist campaign, Hope Not Hate, launched its own petition urging May to ban Jones from Britain, while MPs demanded immediate action from the home secretary. Hope Not Hate's campaign co-ordinator, Nick Lowles, said: "Pastor Jones's presence in Luton will be incendiary and highly dangerous. He will attract and encourage thousands of English Defence League supporters to take to the streets of Luton.
Read more:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2010/dec/11/theresa-may-edl-terry-jones
http://assets.nydailynews.com.nyud.net:8090/img/2010/09/11/amd_jones_laguardia.jpg
Rev. Terry ministers to an enormous congregation of 50 more or less human shapes.