In a significant move against hate speech, the Australian government has cancelled the visa of Jewish influencer Sammy Yahood, preventing his entry into the country. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed the decision, emphasising that promoting hatred does not constitute a valid reason for visiting Australia.
Last-Minute Visa Cancellation Before Flight
The Australian Jewish Association (AJA) reported that Yahood's visa was revoked just three hours before his scheduled flight departure. This timing follows a pattern observed by the organisation, which noted that the government often delays such actions until the final moments before travel.
Yahood, who grew up in the United Kingdom and recently relocated to Israel, had planned to conduct a series of self-defence workshops and launch his "peace through strength" campaign across Australia. His itinerary included speaking engagements at major synagogues and other venues organised by the AJA.
Controversial Statements on Social Media
The decision stems from Yahood's repeated inflammatory posts on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. He has described Islam as a "murderous ideology" and a "disgusting ideology," asserting that it cannot be trusted to coexist peacefully with other beliefs.
Minister Burke addressed the cancellation directly, stating, "If someone wants to come to Australia they should apply for the right visa and come for the right reason." He reinforced that spreading hatred does not align with Australian values or immigration criteria.
Organisational Criticism and Event Details
The AJA has criticised the visa cancellation, highlighting that Yahood is the latest Jewish individual to face such action from the current government. One planned event in Melbourne was promoted as "a unique introductory session to self defence" focusing on physical exercises and personal safety techniques.
Another Melbourne event scheduled for 28 January aimed to empower Jewish attendees to "stand unapologetically strong." Despite the cancellation, Yahood confirmed via Instagram that he would still travel to the United Arab Emirates while attempting to resolve the visa issue, and his fiancée would continue with the Australian trip.
Broader Context of Visa Denials
This incident occurs within a broader pattern of visa restrictions imposed by Minister Burke. Recently, he barred entry to far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who was also scheduled to appear at AJA-organised events. Rothman has made controversial statements describing Palestinian children in Gaza as "enemies" and advocating for Israeli control of the West Bank.
The minister has previously denied visas to other figures with histories of offensive remarks, including rapper Kanye West and former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked. These actions demonstrate a consistent approach to preventing individuals who promote hatred from entering Australia.
Legislative Changes and Character Test
The visa cancellation was executed under existing immigration laws, coinciding with recent legislative changes that expand the grounds for visa refusal or cancellation. The new legislation enhances the home affairs minister's authority to prevent entry if an individual is believed to have engaged in hate speech, vilification, or extremist conduct under the character test.
This development highlights the government's strengthened commitment to combating hate speech and extremism through immigration controls, ensuring that visitors to Australia align with national values of tolerance and respect.
