Southern was detained by border police in Calais while attempting to enter the UK on a bus. Authorities singled her out, confiscated her passport, detained and interrogated her.

The official reason for banning Southern from entering the country was that she was "involved in the distribution of racist material in Luton" and that such activities posed "a threat to the fundamental interests of society and to the public policy of the United Kingdom."

The "racist material" in question comprised of leaflets which stated "Allah is a gay God".