The UK Home Office has denied entry to US-based political influencer Valentina Gomez, citing concerns that her presence would not be in the public interest. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood made the decision based on Gomez's history of inflammatory statements against Islam.
Gomez, who has run for office in Missouri and Texas on an anti-Islam platform, gained notoriety after filming herself burning a copy of the Quran in a campaign video. She had planned to speak at the Tommy Robinson-organized Unite the Kingdom rally in London on May 16.
In response to the ban, Gomez posted defiantly on social media, suggesting she might attempt to enter the UK by unconventional means and challenging authorities to stop her. "They can try to ban me, but they cannot ban the TRUTH," she wrote on X.
At a previous Unite the Kingdom event last September, Gomez made controversial remarks about Muslims, describing Islam as "the sword that the left is using to destroy Christian nations."
The decision came after initial confusion about her visa status. Gomez had previously announced on Instagram that her application had been approved, prompting the Muslim Council of Britain to express concerns to the Home Secretary.
In a letter dated April 17, the organization warned that allowing Gomez to speak publicly in the UK would "grant legitimacy and sends a troubling message about the selective application of Home Office standards." Following the ban, the group welcomed the decision, calling it a "precedent for others who chose to promote disinformation and hatred."
This action follows similar Home Office interventions against public figures deemed potentially inflammatory. Earlier this month, the government refused entry to rapper Kanye West for a performance at Wireless Festival due to his previous antisemitic comments.