Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says he has been denied entry into Australia over “inflammatory and concerning” statements online.
Tamaki took to social media saying he had flown to Brisbane for a church conference, when he was detained by the border force.
In the video, the religious leader says he was interrogated for 12 hours, before his visa was cancelled.
“It was a whole day spent on Tuesday being interrogated by different border control officers in a tiny cell-like room, shut doors, and it was a very intense time,” Tamaki said.
Tamaki said he had been detained in Australia under Section 116 of Australia’s Migration Act.
He claimed Australian Border Force documents said his presence in Australia “may risk the good order of the Australian community, or a segment of the Australian community, namely the Sikh and Muslim communities”.
The documents also described his social media statements as “inflammatory and concerning”, Tamaki claimed.
Tamaki had earlier this week appeared in Manukau District Court, where he denied claims he incited rational disharmony.
In June, he accused India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi of purging Christians in the South Asian nation.
“He [Modi] is currently purging India of all Christians and burning church buildings down,” Tamaki had said in a video posted on social media.
“I think we should reciprocate in kind. Let’s purge New Zealand of Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. And, while we’re at it, if they’re burning churches down, why don’t we burn mosques and their temples down? Tit for tat.”
Tamaki told media outside court that he had challenged religion, not race.
“They’re trying to say it’s racial, and I’m saying to them it never has been. I don’t dislike or hate anybody,” he said.
“In all my 35, 40 years of ministry, it’s about acceptance, it’s about love, it’s hope and faith.”
Tamaki denied intentionally picking 31 October for a rally of his Destiny Church supporters in central Auckland to coincide with the city’s annual Diwali Festival.
In June, police seized Tamaki’s firearms after temporarily suspending his licence. They revoked his licence in August.
He had announced on social media that police had decided he was no longer a “fit and proper person”.
A spokesperson from the Australian Department of Home Affairs said they couldn’t comment on individual cases, but said the Australian Government was committed to protecting the community from the risk of harm posed by non-citizens who engage in criminal conduct or behaviour of concern.
“The Australian government will continue to act decisively to protect the community from the risk of harm posed by individuals who choose to engage in criminal activity or behaviour of concern, including visa cancellation or refusal where appropriate.”
Brian Tamaki has been approached for comment.
Source: www.rnz.co.nz
