LONDON, England - A judge overturned Tuesday a 15-year-long ban on U.S. black activist Louis Farrakhan entering Britain, dismissing government fears that he might stir up racial tension.
Farrakhan, 67, Chicago-based head of the Nation of Islam, has been excluded from Britain since 1986 after the government raised concern about his effect on community relations.
He went to court earlier this month in a bid to rip up the ruling. On Tuesday, Justice Michael Turner overturned the ban at London's High Court, saying he would give his reasons for doing so later in the year.
"My decision is that it should be quashed," he said.
The ban on Farrakhan will remain in force until October when Turner will explain his judgment in full. That would also give the government time to consider an appeal, he said.
Interior minister Beverley Hughes said the government would look at the prospects of appealing. "It is the home secretary's right to defend the social cohesion and racial harmony of this country," she said.
But Farrakhan said he definitely intended to visit.
"I look forward in the very near future to visit the United Kingdom, to meet the Muslim followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, the wider Muslim community as well as the people of the United Kingdom," he said in a statement released by his Chicago headquarters.
RACIAL TENSION
The judicial decision came in the wake of some of Britain's worst race riots in two decades. Tensions between Asians and whites have boiled over into repeated bouts of violence in towns across northern England.
Lawyers for Farrakhan argued former Home Secretary (interior minister) Jack Straw, who is now foreign secretary in the Labour government, was wrong when he upheld the ban last November.
The judge had been told at the hearing earlier this month by Nicholas Blake, Farrakhan's lawyer, that the activist had "moved on" and was now a prominent spiritual and religious leader who was seen as a key spokesman for the U.S. black community.
He said Farrakhan particularly regretted the offense and hurt he had caused the Jewish community. Farrakhan has been accused of anti-Semitism for frequent criticism of U.S. Jews.
Jewish community leaders in Britain remain unconvinced.
"Louis Farrakhan has long espoused racist and offensive views," said Neville Nagler, director of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
"His message of racial segregation will in the current climate do more harm than good to race relations in Britain."
British representatives of Farrakhan's group hailed the court ruling.
"As Muslims we are grateful that our leader will be able to come and give us much needed and valued guidance and instructions," Hilary Muhammad, the UK spokesman for the Nation of Islam, said.
13:56 07-31-01
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