Urge Home Secretary to Bar Rasmus Paludan from entering the UK

“The Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP
Secretary of State for the Home Department
2 Marsham Street
SW1P 4DF

[Insert date]

RE: Rasmus Paludan

Dear Suella Braverman,

We are writing to you on behalf of Muslim Engagement and Development (MEND) after learning that Rasmus Paludan, a notorious Swedish far-right and anti-Muslim activist, plans to visit the city of Wakefield and publicly burn a copy of the Qur'an at the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

We at MEND are deeply concerned that Mr Paludan's visit to Wakefield inevitably risks inciting hatred and prejudice towards a minority Muslim community, particularly in Wakefield, amidst a time when Muslims in the United Kingdom have consecutively comprised the largest number of hate crime victims. Additionally, burning a copy of the Qur'an at the start of Ramadan would directly attack a protected characteristic whilst further disrupting the harmony in a largely cohesive and tolerant community, where Muslims have peacefully co-existed and thrived alongside the majority of the city's population.

As such, many people, particularly the Muslim community in Wakefield, are understandably alarmed about the potential visit and planned desecration of the Qur'an, given that Mr Paludan is a notoriously dangerous figure who harbours deep anti-Muslim sentiments and has a history of inciting intolerance towards Muslims by publicly burning copies of the Qur'an. Consequently, in your role as Home Secretary, we urge you to uphold the British values of respect and tolerance and bar the entry of Rasmus Paludan to the United Kingdom.

We also take this as an opportunity to welcome you to discuss this matter further with us to better understand ways to help protect Muslim communities against intimidation and potential violence from the likes of Rasmus Paludan in a typically thriving and integrated society where Muslims peacefully co-exist with the rest of society.

Yours sincerely,

[Insert correspondent] ”