Anti-Islam campaigner Valentina Gomez blocked from entering UK to speak at Tommy Robinson rally
An anti-Islamic influencer has been banned from entering the UK by the home secretary following significant backlash from MPs and campaign groups.
Valentina Gomez previously claimed to have received a UK electronic travel authorization (ETA) via social media site X (formerly Twitter).
He was scheduled to speak at the Unite the Kingdom rally organized by Tommy Robinson in May.
But the government is understood to have intervened, saying Ms Gomez’s presence would not be in the public interest.
The reasoning echoes that put forward earlier this month to prevent rapper Kanye West, also known as Ye, from entering the UK to play a festival.
The “Gold Digger” and “Heartless” rapper faced accusations of anti-Semitism and used Nazi imagery.
It is understood Ms Gomez was expelled on the grounds that her democratic right to expression does not extend to promoting hatred and extremism.
The home secretary has the power to revoke a person’s permission to enter or remain in the UK.
Ms Gomez, who lives in the US, gained notoriety for a series of anti-Islamic demonstrations during her unsuccessful run as the Republican candidate for Missouri secretary of state.
He burned a copy of the Quran and vowed to eradicate religion from Texas if he remained in power.
“If we don’t stop Islam completely, your daughters will be raped and your sons will be beheaded,” Gomez said in a video, before setting a copy of the holy book on fire.
“America is a Christian country, so these terrorist Muslims can fuck any of the 57 Muslim countries. There is only one true God, and that is the God of Israel.”
In a similar development last week, homelessness charity Centrepoint cut ties with Sharon Osbourne after she voiced her support for a UK rally planned for May 16.
A Centrepoint spokesman said the charity had “no plans” to work with Ms Osbourne in the future.
“Political activity like this is contrary to our values and our long history of supporting young people regardless of their background, religion or ethnicity,” the statement said.
The previous protest at which Ms. Gomez was said to have spoken in September drew an estimated 110,000 to 150,000 participants.
