Canada bars British lawmaker over Hamas support (George Galloway)

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 3/20/09 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

TTAWA (AFP) – British lawmaker George Galloway has been blocked from visiting Canada because of his support of Hamas, which is banned here, the Canadian immigration minister's office said Friday.

"I'm sure Galloway has a large Rolodex of friends in regimes elsewhere in the world willing to roll out the red carpet for him," Alykhan Velshi, spokesman for Canadian Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, told AFP.

"Canada, however, won't be one of them," he said in an email.

Galloway was to give a speech in Toronto at the end of the month, but has been denied entry over his opposition to Canadian troops in Afghanistan, said Britain's Sun newspaper.

Velshi said Galloway was deemed inadmissible to Canada due to national security concerns.

It was an "operational decision" by border security officials "based on a number of factors, not only those mentioned in the Sun piece," he said.

Such a decision could be overturned by ministerial order, but it is not warranted in this case, he said.

[NormsRevenge]

British lawmaker George Galloway, center, flashes the victory sign upon his arrival to the Palestinian side of Rafah, Monday, March 9, 2009, after his aid caravan entered Gaza from Egypt. Galloway was to speak Monday,March 30, 2009, at a Toronto conference, but Canadian immigration officials banned Galloway from the country. Galloway issued a statement calling it 'a very sad day for the Canada we have known and loved.' The outspoken anti-war British lawmaker from the country on national security grounds, officials said Friday. (AP Photo/ Eyad Baba)

[domenad]

Canada, today I salute you.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Well, they’d probably let him in if it were for the purpose of testifying against GWB for his war crimes trial, dontcha think?

[fanfan]

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Congrats to the Canadians! But,,, stick to your guns. Don’t let this sleezeball worm his way in!

[Former Proud Canadian]

Hooray for Mr. Harper and his government. Showing the conservative way for North America.

[-YYZ-]

I’ll bet Galloway had no objection to that Dutch politican (whose name eludes me at the moment) being banned from entering the UK because he had “offended” Islam.

[the anti-liberal]

If Canada wants to be consistent they’ll have to ban Obambi too.

[Clive]

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[Clive]

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[Cindy]

ping.

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