Australia denies US anti-abortion activist a visa after 'character' review
Australian politicians called for American Troy Newman to be banned from the country, calling him 'an anti-choice extremist.'
An activist holds a rosary while rallying against abortion outside City Hall in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday. The same day, Troy Newman, an outspoken American anti-abortion activist, was blocked from entering Australia to speak at a conference, officials said.
Mario Anzuoni/Reuters
Troy Newman, a controversial American anti-abortion activist who heads up the group Operation Rescue, was en route to speak on the subject in five Australian cities when he says he was 鈥減ulled off a plane.鈥�
Mr. Newman said he then found out from officials in Denver that his Australian visa had been revoked, and was barred from boarding a transit flight to Los Angeles, where he planned to board a flight to Melbourne.
鈥淭he Australian government has revoked my visa in midflight,鈥� he wrote in a . An accompanying video also shows a tense exchange with airline employees as they tell Newman to contact the Australian embassy. 聽
Australia鈥檚 Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has confirmed that Newman's , according to Australia's ABC News. He declined to comment any further, saying only that Newman may choose to appeal the decision.
Just days earlier, Australian Labor MP Terri Butler had written to Mr. Dutton to review the spokesman鈥檚 visa on reported The Guardian.
In her letter, Ms. Butler called Newman citing quotes from his book, 鈥淭heir Blood Cries Out,鈥� which questions why doctors who perform abortions are not executed.聽聽
鈥淚 am concerned that Mr. Newman鈥檚 presence in Australia will cause significant harm to our community,鈥� Butler . 鈥淢r. Newman鈥檚 conduct may incite discord within the community and disrupt the ability of women to access lawful reproductive medicine.鈥�
鈥淔urthermore, I am most concerned that Mr. Newman鈥檚 call for 鈥榓bortionists鈥� to be 鈥榚xecuted鈥� could lead to threats or the commission of acts of violence against women and medical professionals,鈥� she added.
The letter was also backed by Australia鈥檚 main opposition leader, Penny Wong, who , 鈥淢r. Newman鈥檚 public comments go well beyond what would be regarded as acceptable debate in this country.鈥�
Many on Twitter cheered the news that Newman鈥檚 visa had been rejected, while others called the move and attack on freedom of expression.
News of Mr. Newman鈥檚 visa refusal comes just days after Australian officials indicated that singer Chris Brown might also be denied entry on the same basis of 鈥渃haracter grounds,鈥� 海角大神 reported.
Mr. Brown is under scrutiny for his conviction for domestic assault in 2009.
鈥淧eople need to understand if you are going to commit domestic violence and then you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, 鈥榊ou cannot come in聽because you are not of the character we expect in Australia,鈥欌�� said Michaelia Cash,聽the country's newly appointed minister for women.
Brown took to Twitter to express remorse for his actions, vowing to campaign against spousal abuse. 鈥淚 would be more than grateful to come to Australia to raise awareness about domestic violence,鈥� he . 鈥淚鈥檓 not the pink elephant in the room anymore.鈥澛�