Anti-Muslim activists turned away at UK border… again
Far-right campaigners were stopped at the UK border for the second time in a month. Martin Sellner, leader of anti-Islamization group Generation Identity was turned away at a UK Airport, along with his crony, Abel Bodi.
Austrian Sellner and Bodi, co-leader of Hungarian Generation Identity, were set to attend a private Generation Identity conference in London on Saturday, but were detained and prevented from entering the United Kingdom.
The private conference was held at a closely guarded location, and had been arranged by Generation Identity United Kingdom and Ireland (GI UK). The UK faction of GI has emerged over the last year and is the latest arm of Bloc Identitaire, a growing far-right movement with groups in 13 countries across Europe.
Why I was refused? Reasons below. Ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/FTOHul5TEo
— Bódi Ábel (@abel_bodi) April 15, 2018
Sellner’s entry refusal comes four weeks after he and other far-right campaigners Lauren Southern and Brittany Pettibone were prevented from entering the UK. The trio had planned to attend an event at Speaker’s Corner, at which Sellner had intended to deliver a speech. His speech was instead read out by controversial far-right activist Tommy Robinson.
.@Martin_Sellner and @abel_bodi have been detained for wanting to attend a *private* conference in the U.K. Martin is also likely now facing a permanent ban. Ridiculous but not surprising. More info to follow.
— Brittany Pettibone (@BrittPettibone) April 13, 2018
Multiple far-right activists took to Twitter to confirm Sellner and Bodi’s border refusal, including Canadian Lauren Southern, who is also banned from the UK for handing out flyers in Luton emblazoned with phrases such as “Allah is gay” and “Allah is trans.”
Martin Sellner has been detained as well as Hungarian identitarian Abel Bodi who were scheduled to attend a private conference in the UK. Hope Not Hate and Antifa are at the Stansted airport. Developing story.
— Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) April 13, 2018
Southern also said that “Hope Not Hate and Antifa are at Stansted Airport,” adding with sarcasm that perhaps they had forgotten to discard “a plastic knife they were using to butter some crumpets in their bag.”
Maybe they forgot a plastic knife they were using to butter some crumpets in their bag. Thank goodness London is safe now!
— Lauren Southern (@Lauren_Southern) April 13, 2018
Anti-racism campaign group Hope Not Hate told The Guardian that “GI’s more ‘respectable’ appearance, slick social media work, distinct iconography and disciplined public face masks an extreme ideology.”
Hope Not Hate’s Joe Mulhall said the group pushes ideals that are far more extreme than other anti-Islamic protest groups like the English Defense League.
Unfortunately, @Martin_Sellner once again has been taken into custody by border police. The Government have decided to abandon freedom of speech. Regardless, the conference will still be happening tomorrow and we won't let this halt our momentum. #FreeSpeechpic.twitter.com/pyAFhcEXq8
— Generation Identity (@GeneratIdentity) April 13, 2018
“The core beliefs of GI, such as ‘ethnopluralism’ and ‘remigration,’ are far more extreme and race-based than anything posited by groups like the EDL,” Mulhall said.
Hope not Hate also said that GI UK has conducted at least 88 UK actions and meetings since July 2017 all over the United Kingdom – in cities such as London, Manchester, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Belfast, Wrexham and Glasgow.
On Saturday, the anti-racism group released a report claiming that GI UK’s potential belied its relatively small support base. “GI UK and Ireland does pose a threat that needs to be understood, not least to make sure it fails to grow as its counterparts on the continent have done,” it said.
“It has the potential to set new expected norms for young far-right activists and standards for branding and professionalism.”
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