London
Britain has refused entry to the pastor from Florida who said last year that he was "asked" whether to burn the Koran to protest against September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"The government opposes any form of extremism and we have therefore excluded from the pastor, Terry Jones, UK" Home Office spokesman said in a statement. "Many of the comments of Reverend Jones has demonstrated his unacceptable behavior."
Jones has promised to take legal action to change the decision. "Just like a man, I think it is against restricting my right to travel, in my opinion, my right to express my opinion, the basic principles of freedom of religion and freedom of expression," he said in an interview phone.
He said he had planned to go to Great Britain, February 9 and spend a week to 10 days there with his church group. He was invited to speak at several rallies in England and do signings, "he said.
Jones, pastor of Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Florida, last September threatened to burn the Koran. "We firmly believe that our minds, but we certainly pray for it," Jones told CNN.
But he changed his mind when he made a proposal for sharp criticism from Muslims around the world and U.S. officials. General David Petraeus, the American commander in Afghanistan, said the Muslim holy book burning "may cause significant problems," and American troops abroad.