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MP Galloway to fight Canada ban | |
(5 days later) | |
British MP George Galloway has said he will challenge the Canadian government's decision to ban him from entering the country. | British MP George Galloway has said he will challenge the Canadian government's decision to ban him from entering the country. |
Officials say he is banned because he recently spoke about providing financial support to Palestinian group Hamas, which is banned in Canada. | Officials say he is banned because he recently spoke about providing financial support to Palestinian group Hamas, which is banned in Canada. |
The leader of the Respect Party insists he is not a Hamas supporter and is not a threat to Canada's national security. | The leader of the Respect Party insists he is not a Hamas supporter and is not a threat to Canada's national security. |
He is due to give a speech in Toronto at the end of this month. | He is due to give a speech in Toronto at the end of this month. |
Mr Galloway, the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in London, described the ban as "idiotic". | Mr Galloway, the Respect MP for Bethnal Green and Bow in London, described the ban as "idiotic". |
"I am not a threat to Canada's national security. I'm just a politician with a different point of view to the Canadian government," he said. | "I am not a threat to Canada's national security. I'm just a politician with a different point of view to the Canadian government," he said. |
"But, one way or another, I will be heard by those who want to hear me in Canada." | "But, one way or another, I will be heard by those who want to hear me in Canada." |
'Quoted extensively' | 'Quoted extensively' |
Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney said border officials made the decision because of Mr Galloway's support for the militant group Hamas. | Canadian immigration minister Jason Kenney said border officials made the decision because of Mr Galloway's support for the militant group Hamas. |
Alykhan Velshi, a spokesman for Mr Kenney, said: "Our border security officials conduct an assessment of who's eligible to come to Canada and on the basis of that assessment, they concluded Mr Galloway would pose a national security threat to Canada." | Alykhan Velshi, a spokesman for Mr Kenney, said: "Our border security officials conduct an assessment of who's eligible to come to Canada and on the basis of that assessment, they concluded Mr Galloway would pose a national security threat to Canada." |
He added: "Hamas is a banned terrorist organisation in Canada and this is an organisation that Mr Galloway has boasted in the past of providing support for." | He added: "Hamas is a banned terrorist organisation in Canada and this is an organisation that Mr Galloway has boasted in the past of providing support for." |
Mr Galloway insisted he simply supported the right of the Palestinian people to elect their own leaders. | Mr Galloway insisted he simply supported the right of the Palestinian people to elect their own leaders. |
The anti-war MP had been due to speak at a public forum, Resisting War from Gaza to Kandahar, in Toronto on 30 March. | The anti-war MP had been due to speak at a public forum, Resisting War from Gaza to Kandahar, in Toronto on 30 March. |
Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 because of his outspoken comments on the Iraq war. | Mr Galloway was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 because of his outspoken comments on the Iraq war. |
His expulsion followed comments on the Iraq war which Labour chairman Ian McCartney said "incited foreign forces to rise up against British troops". | His expulsion followed comments on the Iraq war which Labour chairman Ian McCartney said "incited foreign forces to rise up against British troops". |
In 2006 he was detained "on grounds of national security" at Cairo airport after heading to Egypt to attend a "mock trial" of then PM Tony Blair and then US President George Bush. | In 2006 he was detained "on grounds of national security" at Cairo airport after heading to Egypt to attend a "mock trial" of then PM Tony Blair and then US President George Bush. |
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