UK denied Malema visa due to extremism, support for Hamas
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says its leader Julius Malema will never change his revolutionary beliefs in exchange for a visa after the United Kingdom (UK) denied him one.
This week, the UK Home Office Secretary confirmed the actual reasons why Malema was denied a visa to the country where he was set to address students at Cambridge University's 'Africa Together Conference' on 10 May.
The EFF leader was informed just hours before he was supposed to depart for the UK that his visa could not be processed in time.
In a letter dated Tuesday, 17 June, the UK Home Office said Malema has made controversial statements in the past, including calling for the slaughter of white people. During his meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Oval Office last month, US President Donald Trump also played videos of Malema singing 'Kill the Boer, kill the farmer' and questioned why he had not been arrested.
Despite this, the Constitutional Court maintained that the struggle song Kill the Boer, kill the farmer which Malema has sung in many political rallies, does not constitute hate speech.
Moreover, Malema was denied a visa for declaring unwavering support for Hamas amid the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip.
'I have considered that you made multiple statements which explicitly support Hamas and their terrorist activities. As noted, Hamas is proscribed in the UK. There is a chance that if you were allowed to enter the UK, you could repeat your past views on Hamas. Refusing your visa is the least intrusive method of protecting the UK to ensure that you cannot cause community tensions or engage in unacceptable behaviour.
'Refusing your visa does not infringe on your right to express your views, as you can do so via modern means of communication. A refusal will, however, prevent you from expressing any views in person, which will protect public safety and prevent disorder or crime.'
In response to the letter, the EFF said the fact that the UK Home Office Secretary said Julius Malema's future visa applications will likely be denied because of his political views is not only cowardice but also stifling of democratic debate and a pathetic expression of intolerance for those who hold different views from the UK administration including its monarchy.
'For a nation that preaches its commitment to democracy, the UK has revealed itself as an intolerant bully that seeks to impose its beliefs on the world without challenge, while denying democratically elected leaders of other nations the opportunity to express themselves in their country,' the party said.
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