A self-styled anti-Muslim influencer has launched a racist attack on the Home Secretary after she was barred from entering Britain to attend a rally organised by Tommy Robinson.
Valentina Gomez, based in the US, was last week given an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to speak at the Unite the Kingdom rally on May 16 organised by Robinson, the far-Right activist.
However, it emerged on Monday that Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, had excluded Ms Gomez from the UK, on the grounds that her presence would not be conducive to the public good.
In response to the decision, Ms Gomez, 26, posted a video on social media in which she called Ms Mahmood a “dirty Pakistani Muslim”.
Ms Gomez then claimed she would defy the prospect of arrest to travel to the UK by boat.
She said: “I guarantee you that the White House will get involved. Because I’m not just coming with Jesus Christ, I’m coming with current and former soldiers of the United States military.”
Ms Mahmood used the same grounds to ban Kanye West from entering Britain earlier this month over his anti-Semitic comments.
She prevented the American rapper’s visit to headline the Wireless Festival, forcing the cancellation of the north London event.
Sources said the Government recognised the democratic right of people to freely express their views, but added that this did not include promoting hatred and extremism.
Ms Gomez attended the first Unite the Kingdom rally in September with Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, and warned from the stage that “rapist Muslims” were “taking over” the UK.
Ms Gomez shoots a dummy at point blank range
She said: “England, they took your guns, they took your swords, and they raped your women. You have nothing else to lose, but there’s still hope.
“You are still the majority. So you either fight for this nation or you let all of these rapist Muslims and corrupt politicians take over.”
She also addressed police officers, telling them: “I need you to stop following orders because you know you are being told to look the other way while your country is being raped into submission.”
More than 100,000 people attended the event, which was believed to be the largest far-Right rally of its type British history.
In addition to a range of extremist speakers who appeared on stage, the event was addressed remotely by Elon Musk, whom Downing Street condemned for using “dangerous and inflammatory” language.
The Tesla chief executive told the crowd that “violence is coming” and “you either fight back or you die”.
At least 25 people were arrested and police faced a barrage of physical and verbal abuse from demonstrators who sought to breach cordons.
Ms Mahmood had faced pressure to ban Ms Gomez from entering the UK.
Shabana Mahmood excluded Ms Gomez from Britain on the grounds that her presence would not be conducive to the public good – Leon Neal/Getty Images
Shaista Gohir, a cross-bench peer, wrote on X two days ago: “The @ukhomeoffice should show consistent standards and deny UK entry to Valentina Gomez.”
After Ms Gomez posted about her ETA approval, the Muslim Council of Britain wrote: “The decision highlights a clear double standard in how freedom of speech is applied and can potentially lead to less safety and security on the streets of Britain.
“Others have been denied entry to the UK for rhetoric directed at different faith groups. This inconsistency raises serious concerns about whose speech is deemed unacceptable and whose is permitted.”
Adnan Hussain, an independent MP, also wrote to Ms Mahmood, urging her to ban Ms Gomez, saying that blocking her entry would ensure consistency with previous decisions, such as those affecting West.
“To ensure consistency, uphold public confidence and send a clear message that the UK will not tolerate the importation of hate, regardless of its target, I ask that you exercise the use of exclusionary powers in this instance and revoke her visa,” he wrote.
Kanye West was banned from entering the UK earlier this month over his anti-Semitic comments – JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP
Ms Gomez, a Christian who was born in Colombia, has gained notoriety through a series of anti-Islam stunts. In August last year, she burned a copy of the Koran and vowed to rid Texas of the religion if she were elected to Congress.
In a video posted to social media while unsuccessfully standing for a Republican nomination to Congress, she said her goal was to “end Islam in Texas”. She asked Muslims to leave the state, saying: “Muslims can f— off to any of the 57 Muslim nations.”
Sharon Osbourne, the TV personality, faced a backlash after claiming on Monday that she would be attending the far-Right rally.
On an Instagram post about the planned march, Osbourne’s official account left a comment saying: “See you at the march.” Centrepoint, the homelessness charity, has said it will cut ties with Osbourne as a result.