Rasmus Paludan threatened to burn a copy of the Koran during his visit to Britain
A far-right Danish politician has been refused entry to the UK after threatening to burn a copy of the Koran in Wakefield.
The founder of the anti-Islamic party Storm Kors, Rasmus Balut, has been placed on the UK’s immigration watchlist, Home Office Defense Secretary Tom Dugentat said.
Paludan had said he planned to burn the Koran in a public square in West Yorkshire this week.
It comes after four students were suspended at a Wakefield school for destroying a copy of the Koran.
In a video posted on Twitter on Sunday, Baludan said he was going to the city “to confront anti-democratic forces”.
He said he planned to burn the Koran on Wednesday to coincide with the start of the month of Ramadan.
Baludan has organized several previous protests, including the burning of Qurans, some of which have led to violent counter-demonstrations.
In January, he burned a copy of the Koran outside the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
“Disgusting and racist”
Britain’s defense secretary told the Commons of her involvement in the Danish politician’s visit to Britain after Simon Lightwood, the Labor MP for Wakefield, raised concerns about Baludan’s possible visit on Monday.
MP Lightwood said: “From Denmark to Wakefield for the sole purpose of burning the Qur’an (Koran) in public,” said Rasmus Paludan, a far-right politician in Denmark.
“He is a dangerous man who should not be allowed to enter this country,” the MP added. “Can the Home Secretary reassure me and my community that the Government is taking action to stop this?”
Dugentat said paludan was included in the UK’s index of warnings.
He added: “His visit to the UK will not serve the public interest and he will not be allowed to enter.”
Four pupils from Wakefield’s Kettlethorpe High School were suspended in February after year 10s brought in a Koran. The binding and some pages were torn, but police concluded that no foul play had been committed. The principal of the school expressed satisfaction that “there was no malicious intent on the part of those concerned”.
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