The Home Office confirmed that it had refused al-Qaradawi a visa after taking advice from numerous Government departments.

A spokeswoman for the Home Office said: “The UK will not tolerate the presence of those who seek to justify any act of terrorist violence or express views that could foster inter-community violence."

The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) said today that the government had caved to “unreasonable demands spearheaded by the Tory leader”.

Muhammad Abdul Bari, secretary-general of the MCB said Dr al-Qaradawi enjoyed respect as a scholar throughout the Muslim world.

He said: “I am afraid this decision will send the wrong message to Muslims everywhere about the state of British society and culture."

“Britain has had a long and established tradition of free speech, debate and intellectual pursuit.

“These principles are worth defending, especially if we would like to see them spread throughout the world.”

Mohammed Shafiq from the Ramadhan Foundation, a Muslim youth organisation, said the ruling pandered to xenophobia.

“We’ve had figures like Nick Griffin and the BNP operating freely and promoting violence towards ethnic minorities, and nothing is done.

“This smacks of double standards, and will isolate Muslim communities further.”

The British Muslim Initiative (BMI) called the decision to bar al-Qaradawi “an unwarranted insult to British Muslims”.

Al-Qaradawi has the right to appeal against the decision on human rights and race discrimination grounds, and today’s ruling does not preclude him being given a visa in the future.

Shadow home secretary David Davis welcomed the decision.

“Not before time the Government has finally acted after pressure from David Cameron,” he said.

“The Government’s approach to preachers of hate has been at best timid and at worst downright useless.

“Now it is time for them to take a robust approach across the board.”

The Ramahdan Foundation  expressed its total condemnation at the banning of Yusuf Al Qardawi from visiting the UK today.

The Foundation said: "Al Qardawi is a voice of moderation and is widely respected across the international community.

"We are concerned that this will fuel the anger Muslims have towards Government and Politicians like David Cameron who jumps on bandwagons to demonise Islam and Muslims.

Director of the Foundation, Mr. Mohammed Shafiq added:
 
“The Ramadhan Foundation totally condemns the decision by the Government to ban Shaykh Yusuf Al Qardawi to visit the UK for medical treatment.  This decision will further isolate the Muslim community and strain relations with the Government and politicians.
 
"There are many members of the BNP with convictions for violence towards minorities yet the Government have done nothing to deal with them, Shaykh Al Qardawi is a man of moderation and widely respected through the world.
 
"We urge the government to rethink this decision and allow him to come to the UK for medical treatment."
 
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