Australia PM bans Islamic leader ahead of conference
A radical Muslim sheik who was expected to speak at a major Islamic conference in Melbourne at the weekend has reportedly been banned from entering the country.
Well-known Muslim lecturer Sheik Bilal Philips was denied a visa at the last moment by the Howard Government, The Herald Sun reports.
The government is believed to have acted on advice from national security agencies that have blacklisted Philips, a Jamaica-born cleric who was linked to the 1993 bombings of the World Trade Center. Philips, 50, who now lives in Qatar, once wrote that "Western culture, led by the United States, is the enemy of Islam."
The US Government deported Philips in 2004 after labelling him an "unindicted co-conspirator" in the bombings that killed six people and injured 1000.
Four other foreign Islamic speakers have been granted visas to enter Australia this weekend, including Yvonne Ridley, a controversial British journalist who has described suicide bombings as "martyrdom operations". Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews told the Sun last night that Sheik Philips' visitor application had been refused.
"The department checks each individual against the movement alert list, which contains approximately three million records of persons of concern, including those who may pose a national security risk," Andrews said.
"My department works closely with security and law enforcement agencies to ensure the data held on the movement alert list is accurate and current." Andrews added that a character test was also conducted as part of Philips' visa application.
"I can assure you that in all cases my department conducted the usual checks and screening processes," he said. Sheik Philips reportedly practices a radical form of Islam that advocates marriage to pre-pubescent girls, public executions and stonings.
On his personal website, Philips has declared that "the cutting of hands and heads, stoning of people to death, and (public) lashings are only to be held on Fridays".
The first annual Australian Islamic Conference will be held at Melbourne University this Easter weekend.