by James Ogunleye

LONDON (FinalCall.com)�The UK Black community was in a joyous mood July 31 following a High Court judge decision to overturn a 15-year-old exclusion order which prevents Nation of Islam leader Minister Louis Farrakhan from visiting the UK. Some believe the revered Muslim leader may visit Britain toward the end of the year, once the High Court judge Justice Turner gives his reasons for quashing the ban in October.

Never in the recent times has the UK Black community been so united on a single issue such as the effort to lift the ban, and in welcoming the court decision to overturn the ban. Virtually every Black Briton interviewed by the media�including the British Broadcasting Corporation�gave resounding approval to the court ruling, even though many believe the ban should not have been imposed in the first place.

The Black media, which has won admiration from the community because of its principled stand on the ban, has welcomed the court ruling.

In an Aug. 6 editorial entitled "Welcome to Britain," The Voice, UK�s biggest selling Black newspaper, wrote: "The Voice welcomes (Min.) Louis Farrakhan to Britain. The 15-year ban was as much about suppressing a radical Black movement as it was about (alleged) comments he may have made in the past. In the U.S., the Nation of Islam commands a broad base of support from African Americans, which includes moderates as well as the disaffected."

"They, like us in Britain, are intelligent enough to decide which statements we agree with, and which sentiment we reject. It is regrettable that our increasingly authoritarian Labor (central) government appears not to trust Black people to make these distinctions," The Voice noted.

"(British) politicians have from time to time contrasted the �freedoms� we are supposed to enjoy in Britain with oppressive states in developing world countries. But where is the freedom in banning someone who does not advocate violence against another race, unlike the European far right extremists who are happily goose-stepped in and out of Britain during the time (Min.) Farrakhan has been excluded?" the paper queried.

"The issue," wrote New Nation, another Black newspaper in an Aug. 6 editorial, "was about respect for Britain�s Black community. By barring Min. Farrakhan the (UK) government was effectively treating (its) Black people like children."

Black newspapers may have indeed captured the mood of the Black community.

In London, where the Nation of Islam has a number of mosques, plans are now underway by community activists and ordinary people to welcome the Muslim leader to the UK.

Tony Jowell, 72, a London resident, enthused: "I can�t wait for (Min.) Farrakhan to get here. I must hear what he has to say. Every Black man must experience a miracle in his lifetime. Meeting (Min.) Farrakhan will be mine. Praise God."

Some in the white press, too, welcomed the court ruling. "There is no reason to exclude anyone from this country, however, unpopular their views, unless there are genuine fears that their presence would lead to violence or abuse. So would (Min.) Farrakhan�s arrival in Britain trigger race riots or pogroms? Hardly. Israel has seen it fit to allow (Min.) Farrakhan; why on earth should Britain not follow suit?" wrote The Independent, in an Aug. 1 editorial.

Welcoming the ruling, Min. Hilary Muhammad, Nation of Islam UK representative, said: "We are grateful to the judge for rendering a decision that we believe is a just decision that is 15 years overdue. Now the citizens of the UK will have a chance in the near future to see, hear and judge the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan for themselves. As Muslims, we are grateful that our leader will be able to come and give us much-needed guidance and instructions."

The Home Secretary is reported to be considering an appeal in October once Justice Turner publishes his reasons. But, the government has been urged to accept defeat with humility. Sadique Khan, UK Nation of Islam attorney, said: "We hope the Home Secretary will do the sensible thing and decide not to appeal so that the ordinary people in the UK will have the chance to hear Min. Farrakhan for themselves."

The latest court ruling is indeed an historic one, which has further confirmed the Muslim leader�s capacity to change the course of history. Witness the historic Million Man March and the historic Million Family March. "This is the first time that a Home Secretary has had a substantive decision such as a decision on exclusion order quashed. So, this is a landmark decision and it would set a precedent," said Mr. Khan.