Home Secretary denies entry to Pakistani influencer over antisemitic remarks and calls for jihad

The Home Secretary has denied entry to Pakistani influencer Tuaha Ibn Jalil, blocking his planned UK speaking tour after being alerted to his history of antisemitic comments and incitement to violence.

Jalil, who has two million Instagram followers, was scheduled to speak at mosques, community centres, a university, and a school across the UK. However, his visa was revoked after The Times brought his inflammatory statements to the attention of Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary.

Past remarks by Jalil included claims that “Israelis and Jews … are controlling the whole world through interest-based finance” and the repetition of racist conspiracies about Jewish people controlling the media.

He has also urged Muslims to travel to Palestine for “jihad” and expressed frustration that, as a Pakistani citizen, he cannot enter Israel to wage holy war.

“We cannot go to Palestine because Palestinians don’t have an airport,” Jalil said. “The only airport is in Israel and we cannot land there because they do not allow us. It is not possible for us to travel to Israel on our passports. We cannot do jihad right now.”

Lord Walney, the government’s former independent adviser on political violence, called it “insane to let this man into the UK” and urged the government to revoke Jalil’s visa “immediately.”

A Home Office source has confirmed that Jalil’s visa has now been cancelled.