MP calls on Home Secretary to bar Muslim preacher who justified October 7 from UK speaking tour

On another occasion, he wrote: "If we're going to educate people about Hamas, you must also talk about the source of all this bloodshed: the Hagana and Irgun [early Zionist parliamentary organisations]. History didn't begin on October 7."

And, in a third post, he wrote of Hamas violence in Israel: "It's conceivable and maybe even expected that a legitimate resistant [sic.] movement will make condemnable mistakes or go to excesses every once in a while.

"That doesn't take anything away from the morality of their resistance.”

Following the announcement of Elmasry’s tour, Nick Timothy, Conservative MP for Suffolk and former Downing Street chief of staff, has taken to X to call on the home secretary to act and not allow the preacher entry into the UK.

He wrote: "An American Islamist preacher who praises Hamas is booked for a UK tour next month. This is not rational debate.

"It’s giving a platform to incitement and violent extremism. Will the government stop him coming here?"

He continued: "The home secretary has strong powers to exclude foreign nationals whose presence here would not be conducive to the public good.

"In the case of Shadee Elmasry, she should use them without hesitation - but will she do so?"

A spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) echoed Timothy's calls, adding: "It is obvious that Shadee Elmasry has no place touring the UK.

"His framing of Hamas’ October 7 terrorist atrocities as ‘resistance’ is sickening and smacks of the same insidious rhetoric that plagues so many of our streets and campuses.

"We need fewer extremists in Britain, not more.

"The home secretary has the power to block foreigners whose presence in the UK would not be ‘conducive to the public good’ from entering the country. She should intervene immediately to ensure that he is turned back at the border.”

A spokesperson from the Home Office told the JC: “The Government will always protect the UK and its citizens.

"That is why Shamima Begum, who posed a national security threat, had her British citizenship revoked and is unable to return to the UK.

“We will robustly defend any decision made to protect our national security.”

The Home Office did not confirm whether any action would be taken on Elmasry.

A spokesperson at the Global Relief Trust, said: that the group "is aware of discussions regarding one of our speakers".

"We have conducted checks on the speaker and reviewed content on his social media. We wish to emphasise that any past comments or views expressed are those of the individual and are not associated with the charity.

"The speaker’s participation is solely in support of a humanitarian event focused on faith-based talks and helping vulnerable communities. Matters unrelated to this purpose are not connected with the event or the charity."

The JC has contacted Elmasry for comment.