Pastor Terry Jones Barred from U.K.

Conservative Christian pastor Terry Jones, who last year protested the candidacy of out gay Gainesville, Fla., mayor Craig Lowe with a "No Homo Mayor" sign, has been barred from entering the U.K. for a speaking tour next month.

According to Thomas Crosbie Media, the British government cited the "extremism" of Jones, who last year also attempted to mark the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by burning copies of the Koran.

A British Home Office spokesman said, "Coming to the UK is a privilege, not a right, and we are not willing to allow entry to those whose presence is not conducive to the public good," reported TCM.

Jones's daughter and grandchildren live in Britain. He had accepted an invitation to speak to a group called England Is Ours in mid-February, along with visits to other groups opposed to the expansion of Islam and the construction of mosques in the country.

Jones described the ban as "unfair," according to TCM.

Last spring, fearing for the loss of their tax-exempt status, Jones and his Dove World Outreach Center altered a controversial "No Homo Mayor" sign against then-candidate Craig Lowe, who won the mayoral contest in an April runoff.