'Pro-rape' event in Shrewsbury cancelled as organisers can not guarantee 'privacy or safety' of those attending
A meeting in Shrewsbury of men accused of believing that rape should be legalised has been cancelled by organisers.
The gathering, organised by a supporter of misogynist blogger Daryush 'Roosh' Valizadeh, was due to be held at Frankwell car park in Shrewsbury on Saturday.
A statement on Daryush Valizadeh's website reads: "I can no longer guarantee the safety or privacy of the men who want to attend on February 6, especially since most of the meetups can not be made private in time.
"While I can't stop men who want to continue meeting in private groups, there will be no official Return Of Kings meetups. The listing page has been scrubbed of all locations. I apologize to all the supporters who are let down by my decision."
Despite the cancellation police say their reassurance plans with extra patrols in the area will remain in place.
More than 1,500 people signed a petition trying to ban the meeting.
The petition, 'Ban "Anti-Feminist Pro-Rape" Group Return of the Kings from Shrewsbury', has been addressed to West Mercia Police and Shrewsbury's mayor Miles Kenny.
Valizadeh, who runs the American-based Return of Kings website has arranged for more than 150 co-ordinated meetings to take place around the world from Russia to Thailand, America to Poland.
His followers believe women should be denied the vote and that rape on private property should be legalised.
They also believe women are biologically determined to follow the orders of men.
Councillor Kenny said earlier this week: "These sorts of people are not welcome in Shrewsbury.
"We have put up the barriers to these sorts of people before and we will do now.
"We do not want this person here at all and it is not a question of suppressing freedom of speech but a case of expressing hate."
Valizadeh has been accused by his critics of advocating rape and has held secret meetings with men in London where feminism and male rights were discussed. He has tens of thousands of supporters on social media and his website is read by thousands of men all over the world and has also published a number of books on Amazon.
A petition calling for their removal from the website gathered 236,000 signatures.
All events planned for February 6 have been cancelled.
