WELLINGTON – A New Zealand immigration official has reversed the decision to prevent U.S. conservative political commentator Candace Owens from entering the country, citing the importance of free speech, a spokesperson for the official stated on Thursday.
Owens had plans to speak at various events in Australian cities and Auckland, New Zealand, in February and March. However, Australia’s Immigration Minister Tony Burke had previously prohibited her entry into the country in October, referring to her comments where she denied Nazi medical experiments on Jews during World War II in concentration camps.
The commentator, with over 3 million followers on YouTube, has been accused by critics of promoting conspiracy theories and fueling antisemitism. Owens has sparked controversies with her opinions against Black Lives Matter, feminism, vaccines, and immigration.
New Zealand’s immigration agency refused her an entertainer’s work permit in November on the ground that visas legally cannot be granted to those who have been excluded from another country.
Owens appealed the decision to Associate Immigration Minister Chris Penk, according to a statement by Penk’s office on Thursday. Penk, who is allowed discretion on visa decisions, granted Owens a visa “after considering representations made to him, including the importance of free speech,” the statement said.
She remains unable to enter Australia, however. Burke told reporters in October that Owens “has the capacity to incite discord in almost every direction,” citing her remarks about the Holocaust and about Muslims.
Burke’s spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday.
The Sydney-based promoter of the tour, Rocksman, welcomed the New Zealand reversal as “a win for free speech, and for all those who believe in the importance of robust debate and open dialogue.”
The statement quoted Owens as saying that the reversal was “a step toward a world where individuals are allowed to express their views without fear of censorship or government interference.”
Owens had promised Australian and New Zealand audiences a discussion of free speech and her Christian faith when she announced the speaking tour in August. The promoter is still selling tickets in both countries.
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