British Home Secretary Mr David Blunkett today began an appeal to stop US Muslim and black activist Mr Louis Farrakhan from entering the country.
There are fears Mr Farrakhan's visit may enflame racial tensions. Britain banned him from entering in 1986 following the Nation of Islam leader's comments on Jews, whites, Roman Catholics, women and homosexuals.
But a senior British judge overturned the 68-year-old's 15-year ban from entering the country in July last year.
Chicago-based Mr Farrakhan once called Judaism a "gutter religion" and said Adolf Hitler was a "wickedly great man".
Judge Michael Turner said in July the government had failed to prove that a visit by Mr Farrakhan, who joined the Nation of Islam in the 1950s when it was led by Malcolm X, would endanger community relations.
Mr Farrakhan's solicitor, Mr Sadiq Khan, said the Nation of Islam was disappointed by the Home Secretary's decision to appeal against the ban and that the British government should allow the people of Britain to think for themselves. "The government should stop being so paternalistic," Mr Khan said.
A spokeswoman for the Home Office declined to comment on the appeal.