ECAJ calls for rapper Ye being denied a visa to visit Australia
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry has written to Immigration Minister Andrew Giles requesting that the American rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, be denied a visa to enter Australia.
Kanye “Ye” West. Source: Twitter
The ECAJ is the peak body representing Australia’s Jewish community.
Ye is reportedly visiting Melbourne in the coming days to meet the family of his supposed new wife, designer Bianca Censori.
Co-CEO of the ECAJ told J-Wire: “Ye’s record of inflammatory, racially-charged rhetoric in the US has resulted in outrage from both the African-American and Jewish communities among many others, and saw him barred from certain social media platforms”, Wertheim said. “His threat to go ‘Death Con 3 against Jewish people’ was condemned around the world.”
Ye has denied being anti-semitic.
Peter Wertheim said that the letter sent first thing on Monday morning had provided details as to why it is reasonable for the Minister to suspect that Ye does not pass the character test specified in the Migration Act and why refusing him a visa would be in the national interest.
He added: “We also provided background as to Ye’s capacity, as a celebrity musician, to exercise enormous influence over younger people”, Wertheim said. “A meeting has now also been organised with the Minister”.
Ye has reportedly intends to visit Ivanhoe in Melbourne’s northeast, his partner’s hometown.
College Dropout Burgers, which Ye launched a lawsuit against over the business’ alleged references to the rapper and his branding, is also based in Ivanhoe.
In a post to Instagram referencing the rapper’s apparently impending arrival, the burger restaurant tagged Ye and said, “Call me when you touch down, I’ll pick you up”.
The matter will next appear in the Federal Court on February 10 for a case management hearing.
Mr Giles cannot comment on individual cases because of privacy reasons, a government spokesperson said.
AAP/J-Wire
