Former Lord Mayor Suspended From Labour After Alleged Anti-Semitic Facebook Posts

Wednesday, 23 March 2016 16:31

Keighley and Ilkley MP Kris Hopkins has demanded the immediate resignation of former Labour Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Khadim Hussain if he is unable to prove he was not responsible for anti-Semitic comments posted on his personal Facebook page.

The Labour councillor for Keighley Central and former Lord Mayor has according to media reports appeared to link Israel to Islamic State and promoted a Facebook message saying Hitler killed “six million Zionists”.

A spokesman for the Labour Party confirmed that the Councillor has now been suspended “pending an investigation”. With upcoming local elections the suspension means Councillor Khadim Hussain is no longer eligible to stand for election for the party.

Speaking from Westminster, Mr Hopkins said:

“They are outrageous in any circumstance. But to be posted by a former First Citizen of one of the country’s most diverse and multi-cultural cities makes them all the more shocking.

“As an ex-Leader of Bradford Council, I know all too well of the battles we have had to fight with extreme right-wing groups such as the BNP and EDL and, by working together, much progress has been made.

“But hate-filled statements such as those which seem to have been supported by Cllr Hussain only take us backwards.

“I understand he has just been suspended by the Labour Party. However, unless he can come up with a coherent explanation for how or why he was not responsible for these posts, he must resign immediately as a Keighley Central ward councillor.

“He has brought shame to the town and is not fit to represent anyone.”

Sunrise Radio contacted Councillor Hussain who said he would be defending himself against the allegations; with his strong track record of working in Bradford, bringing faiths together and whilst he was Lord Mayor he pointed out that he had visited the Synagogue on several occasions. He told Sunrise his posts "highlighted the evils of humanity" and "had been taken out of context."

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