The government has cancelled the visa of a Jewish influencer who has previously called for the ban of Islam and was booked to speak at several events in Australia.
The right-leaning Australian Jewish Association (AJA) said Sammy Yahood’s visa was cancelled three hours before his flight was due to depart.
The home affairs minister, Tony Burke, confirmed he had cancelled the visa on Monday evening, and said “spreading hatred is not a good reason to come”.
“If someone wants to come to Australia they should apply for the right visa and come for the right reason,” Burke told Guardian Australia in a statement.
In response to the decision, Yahood took to social media overnight to accuse Labor of “tyranny”, insisting his spirits remained high despite the block.
“This is not a story about me whatsoever,” he said. “This is a story about government overreaching.
“This is a story about tyranny, censorship and control. We cannot allow it.”
Yahood has made multiple posts on X, formerly Twitter, calling Islam a “murderous ideology”, a “disgusting ideology”, and claiming Islam “cannot be trusted to simply ‘co-exist’”. On 6 November, he wrote on X: “It’s time to ban Islam. It’s time to stop being tolerant of those that are not tolerant of us.”
Yahood, who grew up in the United Kingdom and recently moved to Israel, was due to run a series of “self defence workshops” and launch his “peace through strength” campaign.
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The AJA has criticised the cancellation of Yahood’s visa, and said he was scheduled to speak to the AJA in major synagogues and to other organisations across Australia.
“Sammy is the latest Jew to have his visa cancelled by this government. As in other cases, they wait until the last minute,” the organisation wrote on X.
“Parliament just voted to increase the powers of Toby [sic] Burke to cancel visas as an apparent response to support the Jewish community following the Bondi massacre.”
The AJA described one event, due to be held in Melbourne, as “a unique introductory session to self defence. Working through physical exercises to learn essential techniques and principles for personal safety. Let’s take accountability for our security together.”
Another event, also scheduled in Melbourne on 28 January, said the event was “empowering Jews to stand unapologetically strong”.
Yahood confirmed his visa had been cancelled in an Instagram post, and said he was still flying to United Arab Emirates and “working to sort”. He said his fiancee, who was attending the events with him, will continue to travel to Australia.
Burke recently barred the entry of far-right Israeli politician Simcha Rothman, who was scheduled to appear at events also organised by the AJA. Rothman has described Palestinian children in Gaza as “enemies” and called for Israel’s total control of the West Bank.
The home affairs minister has also barred the entry of other personalities and politicians with a history of controversial or offensive statements, including the rapper Kanye West, and the former Israeli minister Ayelet Shaked.
The cancellation, which was made under existing laws, comes just one week after the federal government passed new legislation that increases the grounds the home affairs minister can use to reject or cancel a visa. The minister could prevent an individual coming to Australia if they believe a person has engaged in hate, vilification or extremist conduct under the character test.
Yahood was approached for comment.
