Britain bans pro-Hamas New Jersey preacher

Britain’s home secretary signs order barring entry to antisemitic Muslim preacher from New Jersey over his public support for Hamas after Oct. 7.

By World Israel News Staff

The United Kingdom has banned an American Muslim preacher from entering the country, citing his antisemitic, pro-Hamas comments, including his support for the Oct. 7, 2023, invasion of Israel.

On Monday, British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmoud signed an order prohibiting Dr. Shadee Elmasry from entering the UK.

The order revoked Elmasry’s travel authorization days before he was slated to visit Britain for a three-day fundraising tour on behalf of a Muslim charity, the Global Relief Trust (GRT).

The tour was to have included events in Birmingham, Bolton, and Ilford.

Elmasry, a New Jersey native employed by the New Brunswick Islamic Center, defended Hamas’ invasion of Israel in 2023 in a series of social media posts.

“They are all in this (fake or real) state of shock that the people of Gaza finally punched back (after 50 years),” Elmasry wrote. “In contrast, the very same people would celebrate a similar kind of attack from Ukraine against Putin.”

“If we’re going to educate people about Hamas, you must also talk about the source of all this bloodshed: the Hagana and Irgun. History didn’t begin on October 7,” Elmasry wrote in another post.

“It’s conceivable and maybe even expected that a legitimate resistant movement will make condemnable mistakes or go to excesses every once in a while. That doesn’t take anything away from the morality of their resistance.”

An official close to Home Secretary Mahmoud told The Telegraph that the government would not permit non-citizens to spread “extremist ideas” in Britain.

“There is no place in the UK for foreign nationals who spread hate or push extremist ideas. Those seeking to divide our communities will not be allowed to enter the UK.”

Elmasry responded to the ban in a statement to The New Arab, saying: “It’s bizarre when people fail to see how controlled they are.”