Farrakhan's UK visa stirs up controversy

Nation of Islam members welcomed the decision

The decision to lift the ban on US black political leader Louis Farrakhan's visiting the UK has divided opinion.

Mr Farrakhan will not be able to set foot in Britain until Mr Justice Turner gives his reasons for his High Court ruling in October.

This is a sad day for all of us in Britain who work for good race relations

Lord Janner, vice president of the World Jewish Congress

But when the Muslim leader's 15-year exclusion from the UK ends he is likely to face a mixed reception.

Many share the views of Home Secretary Jack Straw that the 67-year-old would stir up racial unrest.

But members of the Nation of Islam in the UK are among those who have viewed the decision as a victory for democracy.

Mr Farrakhan's lawyers argued that all he wants to do is speak to supporters about spiritual values for the black community.

However, the Jewish community in Britain has reacted with alarm to the decision, infuriated by his past comments.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the ruling was unwelcome although its significance was difficult to gauge ahead of the publication of the judge's reasons.

Views 'offensive'

Director general Neville Nagler told BBC News Online: "Louis Farrakhan has long espoused racist and offensive views.

Louis Farrakhan could soon be visiting the UK

"He has never repudiated his obscene anti-Semitic comments.

"We remain convinced that his presence in this country, with his message of racial segregation, will, in the current climate, do more harm than good to race relations in Britain.

This is a view shared by Lord Janner of Braunstone, QC, vice president of the World Jewish Congress.

"This is a sad day for all of us in Britain who work for good race relations.

Lord Janner, who is chairman of the Holocaust Educational Trust, views any visit with trepidation.

"In the past, Farrakhan has stirred up racial tension especially by his thoroughly nasty references to Jewish people.

"If he does come to Britain I hope that he will not be here to stir up ill will," he said.

The editor of the Jewish Chronicle, Ned Temko, told BBC News Online that this was not about curbing freedom of speech.

"But the concern of many British Jews, and of past Home Secretaries in ruling against his application to enter Britain, has been over what they viewed as a real possibility that words of hate might be used to incite actions of hate," he said.

Decision welcomed

But members of the Nation of Islam in the UK say the decision is 15 years overdue.

Their UK spokesman Hilary Muhammad said: "Now the citizens of UK will have a chance in the near future to see, hear and judge the honourable Minister Louis Farrakhan for themselves."

"As Muslims we are grateful that our leader will be able to come and give us much-needed and valued guidance and instructions.

He said that in a democratic society black people should be able to decide for themselves whether to listen to someone.

In the High Court hearing earlier this month David Pannick QC, for the Home Office, said Mr Farrakhan had expressed regret to the court over past remarks about Jews.

But Mr Farrakhan had not said he has withdrawn or retracted his past comments, which included referring to "synagogues of Satan".

And Mr Pannick said Mr Farrakhan's apparent message over the years was that "Jews have money and power - secondly, black people are the victims of the fact that Jews have money and power, and they are responsible for holding down black people".

Lawyers for Mr Farrakhan argued that the ban was unlawful in interfering with the leader's right to speak with his UK supporters and was in contravention of the Human Rights Act.