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Friday, June 20, 2008
Britain: Martha Stewart not welcome
Martha Stewart, the doyenne of all things domestic, has been refused entry into Britain because of her criminal convictions for obstructing justice, according to today’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
The 66-year-old lifestyle guru, convicted four years ago in the United States for obstructing justice, was planning to speak at the Royal Academy and to hold meetings with several figures in the fashion and leisure industry. She was due to travel within the next few days.
A spokesperson for Stewart said the business magnate loves England and has lots of friends in Britain and hopes the matter can be resolved soon.
Britain’s Border Agency said it would not comment on individual cases. But a spokesman added: “We continue to oppose the entry to the U.K. of individuals where we believe their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good or where they have been found guilty of serious criminal offenses abroad.”
Obviously the government believes Stewart to be a more dangerous threat than someone like Ibrahim Mousawi, a chief spokesperson for the Lebanese organization Hezbollah, which has been linked to terror attacks. He has been allowed to speak at conferences and tour the country this year.
