Canada Bans Anti-War MP George Galloway

Posted by Joshua Holland, AlterNet at 4:17 AM on March 24, 2009.

Last year, the Right had one of its ubiquitous little rage-gasms over a complaint filed by the Canadian Islamic Council against lunatic columnist Mark Steyn. CIC characterized one of Steyn's columns as "flagrantly Islamophobic" blather -- a point that's difficult to dispute, but doesn't make it a violation of the law -- and Steyn was, fortunately, acquitted of the charge by Canada's Human Rights Commission. It all turned out to be a tempest in a teapot.

But for ten minutes, the execrable Steyn was a cause celebré for conservatives -- an example of the perfidy of liberal political correctness run amok.

Yet somehow, I doubt many of the free-speech absolutists who jumped to Steyn's defense are going to be too upset about this:

George Galloway, a British member of Parliament, has been banned from Canada on security grounds, the country's immigration service has confirmed.

Mr Galloway, a Respect Party MP, said the ban was "idiotic" and he would look at legal action to try to overturn it.

British media reported the decision was due to his views on Afghanistan and the presence of Canadian troops there.

The anti-war MP was expelled from the Labour Party in 2003 because of his outspoken comments on the Iraq war.

Mr Galloway said he was not prepared to accept what he described as an "inexplicable decision" and indicated he would challenge it with all means at his disposal.

"This has further vindicated the anti-war movement's contention that unjust wars abroad will end up consuming the very liberties that make us who we are," he said.

Galloway, of course, is an outspoken critic of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and a long-time advocate for Palestinian rights. According to The Independent, it's the latter issue that appears to have caused his problems entering Canada. The paper reports, "his proposed visit prompted the Jewish Defense League of Canada to write an open letter to the country's government urging it to do 'everything possible to keep this hater away.'"

Here's a clip of Galloway absolutely destroying an obviously over-matched representative of the Jewish Defense League:

The irony is that the JDL is an extremist group itself. Founded by the late, rabid Rabbi Meir Kahane, the JDL was reportedly considered an active terrorist organization by the FBI as recently as 2000.

Anyway ...

A spokesman for Canada's Immigration Minister Jason Kenney insisted the decision, taken by border security officials, would not be overturned.

Mr Kenney's spokesman Alykhan Velshi said the act was designed to protect Canadians from people who fund, support or engage in terrorism.

The minister has the right to issue special exemption permits but will not do so in Mr Galloway's case.

Mr Velshi said: "We're going to uphold the law, not give special treatment to this infandous street-corner Cromwell who actually brags about giving 'financial support' to Hamas, a terrorist organisation banned in Canada.

"Infandous," in case you're about to Google it, means "too odious to be expressed or mentioned."

Those who organized Galloway's speech don't think Galloway's positions are all that infandous anyway, and they aren't taking the ban lying down. Apparently, a fight is brewing:

Groups organising the speaking tour of a British anti-war MP whose entry has been banned into Canada say they will now “escort” him into the country from across the US border.

The organisers of his speaking tour here - Council of Canadians, Canadian Civil Liberties Union, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, anti-war coalitions and trade unions - said Sunday they will try to have the ban overturned in court this week.

If they don’t succeed in court, they said, their activists and supporters will “escort” Galloway across the border from the US where he is also scheduled to speak.

If you're on Facebook, you can join the group, "Let Him Speak: Allow George Galloway to Speak in Canada" here (and you can friend me while you're at it)

Just for your entertainment, here's a highlight of what will probably be considered the defining moment of his career: his slaughter of senator Norm Coleman in a hearing on the UN Oil-for-Food program:

Tagged as: free speech, galloway, steyn, israel palestine

Joshua Holland is an editor and senior writer at AlterNet.