Green Party is investigating pro-Palestine councillor who shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after winning election in Leeds
THE Green Party is investigating a councillor who shouted “Allahu Akbar!” after being elected and had a history of inciting hostility against a Jewish rabbi.
Mothin Ali was one of dozens of candidates who ran on a Pro-Palestinian ticket and defeated their Labour rival in last week’s local elections.
But the victories quickly turned sour, with the Government’s independent antisemitism advisor now looking into the allegations of “anti-Jewish racism” among their new councillors.
Mr Ali plunged into further controversy on Sunday after some of his social media posts were unearthed.
In February, the 42-year-old described a Jewish university chaplain forced into hiding by threats from protesters as a “creep” and a “kind of animal”.
On the day of the horrific Hamas massacre of October 7, Mr Ali also tweeted that “white supremacist European settler colonialism must end!”
After the comments emerged, a Green Party spokesman said: “The Green Party is investigating issues drawn to our attention in relation to Councillor Mothin Ali, so cannot comment further.
“However, we are clear that we never support anything that extols violence.”
Mr Ali is not the sole target of scrutiny, with the social media activity of two winning Bristol councillors also raising concerns, as well as a Peterborough councillor who was accused by the Jewish press of making anti-Israel remarks.
The Government’s antisemitism adviser Lord Mann is expected look into whether the Greens should suspend or withdraw the whip from them.
He will also advise on ways the party could improve its candidate selection and vetting.
Lord Mann told The Sun: “The Green Party has had some electoral success across a number of councils and it is therefore all the more important that they have a robust approach to any allegations of anti Jewish racism amongst their elected representatives.
“I am pleased that they have agreed to meet with me and I will deal with them in exactly the same way that I have dealt with other political parties.”
The video of Ali went viral on Sunday after he won his seat in Leeds.
In a clip posted on TikTok, Ali was declared the winner before he burst into the speech.
As two men hold a Palestinian flag behind him, he said he ran for election “for the community of Gipton and Harehills who are fed up of being let down by the Labour council.
At this point Ali began to be interrupted by people in the crowd – with one man shouting for him to “shut up” and “f**k off”.
He continued: “This is a win for the people of Gaza. We will not be silent.
“We will raise the voice of Gaza. We will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu Akbar.”