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Farage slammed for hypocrisy over stunt trip to visit Djokovic's family

NIGEL FARAGE drew widespread criticism today — including from tennis champion Andy Murray — after launching a hypocritical attack on Australia’s treatment of Novak Djokovic. 

The former Ukip leader visited Mr Djokovic’s family home in Belgrade to show support for the Serbian tennis star, who won his appeal to remain in Australia on Monday. 

Mr Farage hailed the court’s decision as a “huge win,” as Mr Djokovic — an avowed Covid vaccine refusenik — was released from a five-day stay in a detention hotel after his visa had been cancelled by Australian authorities over doubts about his eligibility to enter the country under Covid rules.  

The far-right figure’s bizarre intervention in the row has been widely ridiculed with commentators highlighting how his outrage over Australia’s border controls stand in stark contrast to his past praise of the country’s tough immigration system. 

Reposting Mr Farage’s cringeworthy video with Mr Djokovic’s family, Scottish two-time WImbledon winner Mr Murray wrote: “Please record the awkward moment when you tell them you’ve spent most of your career campaigning to have people from Eastern Europe deported.”

Krzysia Balinska, from Polish Migrants Organise for Change, said: “It is unsurprising that Farage is engaging in the old-time anti-migrant rhetoric of deservingness: people with migrant backgrounds are welcome so long as they are Olympic champions or winners of the International Chopin Piano Competition. 

“Every person, regardless of where they were born or their immigration status, deserves safety and dignity.”

The row over Mr Djokovic’s case has brought international attention to horrendous conditions at the infamous detention hotel he was being held at in Melbourne. Dozens of asylum-seekers were also staying at the hotel. 

“For years, people have been detained in substandard conditions in the same hotel where Novak Djokovic was held because of Australia’s appalling immigration practices — previously endorsed by the likes of Nigel Farage and [Home Secretary] Priti Patel,” Ms Balinska said. 

Australia rejected Mr Djokovic’s visa last week after he told border officials he had caught Covid-19 in December and was therefore exempt from needing a vaccination to enter the country. 

 

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