 UK
judge lifts ban on Farrakhan
LONDON (FinalCall.com)�A High Court judge
in London July 31 overturned a 15-year-old order banning the Honorable
Minister Louis Farrakhan from the United Kingdom. A court fight over the
exclusion order had been ongoing, and Nation of Islam officials in the
United States and in Britain hailed the decision.
Justice Michael Turner, the High Court judge, said he will outline his
reasons for the decision on Oct. 1. Once that happens, Min. Farrakhan
should be able to visit the United Kingdom, observers said.
�On behalf of all of the Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad in the United States and in the United Kingdom, and, on behalf
of all of those who love truth and seek justice, we give praise and
thanks first and foremost to Almighty (God) Allah, for, we believe it
was He who put it in the heart of my U.K. Representative Minister Hilary
Muhammad and the believers to sacrifice and hire a wonderful group of
Barristers (attorneys) who were willing to take this case. We also
believe it was Allah (God) who guided the attorneys and we believe it
was Allah (God) who touched the heart of the judge to render a just
decision which is 15 years overdue,� Min. Farrakhan said.
�We thank all of those who worked so hard to achieve this great
victory. As Muslims, we take victory and defeat with humility, always
recognizing the greatness of Allah (God) and our complete dependence on
Him for a favorable outcome to any situation in which we are involved.
�I look forward in the very near future to visit the United
Kingdom to meet the Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah
Muhammad, the wider Muslim community, as well as the people of the
United Kingdom,� Min. Farrakhan said.
The controversial ban on Min. Farrakhan, imposed in 1986, was
challenged in court last November. UK government Home Secretary Jack
Straw had decided to maintain the ban. In arguments, lawyers for
Min. Farrakhan said there was no reason for the ban. They charged
that the ban violated human rights and common law, and denied
members of the UK Nation of Islam and the Black community the right
to hear the respected Black leader.
The lawyers also noted that Min. Farrakhan's message of
upliftment, his stand for justice and spiritual teaching was
valuable and should not be kept from the Black community.
Home Secretary Jack Straw tried to justify the ban by saying Min.
Farrakhan had expressed "anti-Semitic and racially divisive views."
"We hope the Secretary of State will be sensible and decide not
to appeal so that not just Black people, but ordinary people
everywhere, can hear Mr. Farrakhan for themselves," said Sadiq Khan,
one of the attorneys who argued the case for the Nation of Islam.
Responding to the ruling, the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, who has
helped in the effort to lift the ban, said: �I reached out myself
and made appeals for the Minister�s freedom to speak. The world is
too small to build walls, we have to build bridges. This is the
right thing to do. I�m sure his words will inspire Africans and
African-Caribbeans in Britain who feel so isolated.�
Former heavyweight boxing champ Lennox Lewis, who is from the
U.K., told reporters during the recent Hip Hop Summit in New York
that the ban on Min. Farrakhan should be lifted. �England doesn�t
really have too many Black leaders that it can really look up to.
The Minister is definitely someone they can look up and learn from,
and I think they should lift that ban.�
The government has the right to appeal the decision once Justice
Turner outlines his reasons for overturning the decision.
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