Australia revokes visa of Israeli influencer who had known as Islam a ‘murderous ideology’ | EUROtoday

Australia has cancelled the visa of a British-Israeli social media influencer, saying it is not going to admit guests whose objective is to “spread hatred”.

Influencer Sammy Yahood, 25, was as a result of fly to Australia for a talking tour, however had been notified of his revoked visa standing simply three hours previous to his scheduled departure, based on a video he posted on Instagram.

Home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed on Tuesday that he had revoked Mr Yahood’s visa, as a result of “spreading hatred is not a good reason to come”. “If someone wants to come to Australia they should apply for the right visa and come for the right reason,” Mr Burke instructed The Guardian Australia.

Mr Yahood, who grew up within the UK and just lately moved to Israel, has, prior to now, described Islam as a “murderous” ideology on X, previously Twitter. He has additionally posted saying it was “time to ban Islam” and described himself as “proud as a Zionist to now live in the one Jewish state, Israel”.

Mr Yahood has accused the Australian authorities of censorship and overreach. “This is a story about tyranny, censorship and control,” he stated on social media.

In a press release to The IndependentMr Yahood stated the official resolution offered to him by the federal government was an “alleged attempt to carry out business on a tourist visa”, including that he doesn’t imagine he was in breach of his visa phrases.

“I was coming to Australia to speak with the Jewish and Christian communities about courage, faith, and unity. All my events were scheduled by non-profit organisations which need to take a fee from tickets to cover hosting overhead costs. This fee was used against me by the Australian government to create the excuse for visa cancellation,” Mr Yahood stated.

He described Mr Burke’s assertion to media as each “contradictory to official decision reasoning for visa cancellation” and “ fundamentally incorrect”.

“Islam is not an ideology inclusive of other faiths or non believers. To criticise and state this fact backed up by the Quran, is not hatred. I have never and would never spread hatred targeting people or groups, not Muslims or anyone,” he stated.

In one other video he posted on Tuesday, he stated he flew from Israel to Abu Dhabi however was blocked from boarding his connecting flight to Melbourne.

The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) has condemned prime minister Anthony Albanese’s administration for cancelling Mr Yahood’s visa.

“The persistent targeting of Jewish visitors by the Albanese Government has contributed to the rise of antisemitism in Australia. This latest cancellation reinforces deep concerns within the Jewish community that, despite the horror of the Bondi massacre and the government’s belated apology, the Albanese Government hasn’t changed and was never genuine,” a press release from AJA CEO Robert Gregory, posted on X, learn.

The AJA had secured Mr Yahood, who’s a Krav Maga teacher, to run a self-defence session in partnership with one other synagogue, the organisation stated.

Two gunmen launched an antisemitic terror assault on the Bondi seashore in December final yr killing 15 folks and injuring dozens.

Australia’s parliament just lately handed new hate and migration legal guidelines which permits the house affairs minister to refuse or cancel visas if an individual has “engaged in hate, vilification or extremist conduct”.

Mr Burke has beforehand used these powers to dam entry to controversial figures whose previous statements raised considerations about spreading division or hate, together with far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, who was banned forward of a deliberate go to, and US rapper Kanye West after he launched a tune extensively criticised for referencing Adolf Hitler. Last yr British social media character “Big John” Fisher noticed his Australian tour abruptly cancelled after immigration authorities refused him entry, citing a violation of visa circumstances.

Mr Fisher, identified for his fast-food critiques and catchphrase “bosh”, was detained on arrival in Perth and despatched again to the UK. Upon his arrival, he stated Australian Border Force officers detained him for nearly 4 hours after apparently informing him that whereas his visa allowed entry as a vacationer, it didn’t allow him to interact in paid work or promotional appearances.