(WND) - Muslims in Britain are urging their government to ban evangelist Franklin Graham from entering the United Kingdom, contending the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham has made “Islamophobic and homophobic statements.”
Graham, the CEO of the humanitarian group Samaritan’s Purse and also the Billy Graham Association, is scheduled to speak at a Christian festival this month in the Northern England city of Blackpool.
But the Muslim Council of Britain, joined by three Parliament members, wants the British Home Office to revoke his visa on the grounds of “hate speech,” reports the Guardian newspaper of London.
“In the past the government has banned individuals whom they claim are ‘not conducive to the public good,'” the Muslim organization said in a statement. “Mr Graham’s remarks are on record and clearly demonstrate a hatred for Muslims and other minorities.”
The MCB said it “would expect the government to apply its criteria here.”
“If it does not, it will send a clear message that it is not consistent in challenging all forms of bigotry.”
Among the complaints, according to the Guardian, is that Graham has called Islam “evil” and “wicked,” and said Satan was the architect of same-sex marriage and LGBT rights.
Fiyaz Mughal, the founder of a group that monitors “Islamophobia” in the U.K. called Tell Mama, told the Guardian it was shocking that Graham was being given a platform.
His views are “regressive and need to be challenged,” he said.
The event, the Festival of Hope, opens Sept. 21. It is organized by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and and has the support of than 30 local churches of various denominations.
The Guardian said that in July, the local Blackpool Transport and Stagecoach canceled advertisements on its buses promoting Graham’s appearance at the festival. The company cited “heightened tensions” and said the ads were not “consistent with our company values.”
Read More . . . .
No comments:
Post a Comment