OTTAWA – The battle against "crass politics" barring controversial British MP George Galloway from entering Canada is headed to court today, Toronto lawyer Barbara Jackman says.

"We will file an application to review the decision that he is inadmissible to Canada, and the decision taken presumptively that he can't have an exemption," Jackman said yesterday.

Galloway was barred from Canada based on allegations he funded Hamas when he recently led an aid convoy into Gaza. Canada has banned Hamas as a terrorist group.

"I've never seen something quite so blatant in terms of crass politics frankly," said Jackman, an immigration specialist, who accused Immigration Minister Jason Kenney of letting his political beliefs get in the way of doing his job.

"It is not up to him to say Canadians can't hear this member of (Britain's) parliament because he doesn't like his political views or his activities," she said.

"This is the problem, he is running the ministry as though it's the Conservative party ... but he's not doing that, he running the government for the people of Canada."

Galloway was to speak on his views of the war in Afghanistan and the Middle East conflict next week in Toronto, Mississauga, Ottawa and Montreal, but officials with the Canada Border Services Agency flagged him as a terrorist sympathizer and closed the door.

Kenney declined to use his powers as immigration minister to overturn the decision.

"He has a right to continue to express his odious opinions, his support for terrorist organizations around the world," Kenney said.

"But that's not the issue. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech and everything to with maintaining the integrity of our immigration act, which says individuals that provide materials and financial support to an illegal terrorist organization are inadmissible for entry into Canada, and I have no intention of second guessing (that)," he said.

The decision to bar Galloway was made under Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The government informed Galloway by letter, obtained by the Star, that there "are reasonable grounds to believe you have provided financial support for Hamas.

"Specifically, we have information that indicates you organized a convoy worth over £1 million in aid and vehicles to Hamas, and personally donated vehicles and financing to (former) Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh. Your material support for this organization makes you inadmissible to Canada," the letter said.

Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae (Toronto Centre) said that while Galloway does have "bizarre opinions," he should be allowed to share them.

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Peace activists along with some MPs are to hold a news conference on Parliament Hill today to denounce the government's decision to bar Galloway's visit.

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