Australia to deport British man charged with displaying Nazi symbols

A British nationwide in Australia has had his visa cancelled and faces deportation for allegedly displaying Nazi symbols.

The 43-year-old man residing in Queensland was arrested and charged earlier this month, after allegedly utilizing a social media account to submit the Nazi swastika, promote pro-Nazi ideology and name for violence in direction of the Jewish group.

The person was taken into immigration detention this week in Brisbane and is because of face court docket in January. Police have been cracking down on using prohibited symbols amid a latest rise in antisemitism and right-wing extremism.

Dwelling Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated: “He got here right here to hate – he does not get to remain.”

“If you happen to come to Australia on a visa, you might be right here as a visitor,” Burke instructed the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) on Wednesday.

Final month, Burke additionally revoked the visa of Matthew Gruter, a South African nationwide who had been residing in Australia since 2022, after he was seen attending a neo-Nazi rally in entrance of the New South Wales parliament.

Like Gruter, the British man can enchantment his visa being revoked. He can go away Australia voluntarily or wait to be deported to his dwelling nation.

It’s understood police are assessing whether or not to delay deporting the person so he can face court docket subsequent month.

The BBC has contacted the UK International Workplace for remark.

Earlier this 12 months, Australia tightened its hate crime laws, introducing obligatory jail phrases for displaying hate symbols or performing a Nazi salute.

Police started investigating the British man in October over alleged posts on X. The social media platform blocked his account, prompting him to create a brand new one with the same identify the place he continued posting offensive and dangerous content material, police stated.

Authorities searched the person’s dwelling in Caboolture, on the outskirts of Brisbane, in late November and seized telephones, weapons and a number of other swords with swastika symbols.

He was charged with three counts of displaying banned Nazi symbols and one rely of utilizing the web to trigger offense.

“We need to guarantee these symbols aren’t getting used to fracture social cohesion,” Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt stated earlier this month.

“If we establish cases the place that is taking place, we’ll act swiftly to disrupt the behaviour, prosecute these concerned and defend the dignity, security and cohesion of our numerous group.”