AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Australian government has cancelled the visa of Sami Yahud, a Zionist social media influencer, over the publication of anti-Islamic content, saying it will not allow entry to individuals who seek to come to the country to promote hatred.
Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke, said in a statement on Tuesday, “The spread of hatred is not a legitimate reason to travel to Australia.” The remarks came hours after Yahud said his visa had been cancelled just three hours before his scheduled flight from the occupied territories. Burke added that applicants must seek the appropriate visa and enter Australia “for the right reasons.”
Hours before the cancellation, Yahud wrote on X that Islam “does not tolerate unbelievers, apostates, women’s rights, children, or homosexuals,” describing the religion as a “repulsive” and “aggressive ideology.” In other posts, he called for the deportation of Ilhan Omar, the Muslim member of the U.S. Congress, and mocked the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).
The decision comes as Australia earlier this month tightened its hate crime laws following a deadly shooting during a Jewish ceremony at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Australian media said Yahud’s visa was cancelled under the same existing legal provisions previously used to block entry to people accused of promoting hatred. Sky News Australia reported that Burke had earlier revoked the visas of Hillel Fuld, a Zionist-American activist, and Simcha Rothman, a far-right lawmaker from the Zionist regime, over concerns they could inflame division.
Despite the cancellation, Yahud said he flew from the occupied territories to Abu Dhabi but was prevented from boarding his onward flight to Melbourne. Writing on X, he called the move “illegal” and said he would take action against it.
Meanwhile, the Australian Jewish conservative group that had invited Yahud to speak in Sydney and Melbourne “strongly condemned” the decision by the government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
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