Botswana deports US Pastor who celebrated Orlando massacre
A US pastor who celebrated the Orlando massacre will be deported from Botswana, the country’s government has confirmed.
Pastor Steven Anderson of the Faithful Word Baptist Church in Phoenix is one of America’s most homophobic pastors.
In a previous sermon he directly called for the execution of gay people by stoning, claiming: “If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. That, my friends, is the cure for AIDS.”
He openly celebrated the Orlando massacre earlier this year, telling his congregation: “The good news is that there’s 50 less paedophiles in this world, because, you know, these homosexuals are a bunch of disgusting perverts and paedophiles. That’s who was a victim here… just a disgusting homosexuals at a gay bar.”
Praising the actions of the shooter, he said: “There is a full-on war going on! A bunch of filthy sodomite perverts are at war with us!”
The pastor planned to head to Africa this month to convert more people to his extreme cause – but his plans were hindered by travel bans issued by South Africa and the United Kingdom.
He did eventually make it to Botswana this week, but he was held by immigration officials amid concerns about hate preaching.
The country’s government has today confirmed he will be deported, tweeting: “Pastor #StevenAnderson, a #USA citizen has been declared a Prohibited Immigrant and as such is being deported from #Botswana”.
Anderson had previously insisted Botswana, which already criminalises homosexuality and jails gay people for up to seven years, was a “way more receptive place” for his message.
However, the country’s government reaffirmed its opposition to violence and extremism.
Ranting about his previous ban from South Africa, he fumed: “It’s too bad that South Africa fell through because they banned me personally.
“But at the end of the day, it’s no skin off my back. I wasn’t really that excited about visiting their so-called beautiful country which is the rape capital of the world.
“It’s one of the most dangerous, wicked places in the entire world. I was actually going there for their sakes. I was trying to bring the gospel to the lost.”
