LAAS calls lifting of suspension for Labour councillor an “unacceptable decision”

A Labour councillor in Brent who posted an antisemitic video in a community WhatsApp group has had his suspension lifted by the Labour Party. Councillor Aslam Choudry had also allegedly shared antisemitic content on Facebook in 2016.

Euan Philipps, spokesperson for Labour Against Antisemitism, said:

“The lifting of the suspension of Councillor Aslam Choudry by the Labour Party, following allegations of his anti-Jewish racism, is an unacceptable decision.

It shows that the organisation is still deeply mired in anti-Jewish racism at an institutional level, despite assurances that changes had been made in recent months.

Not only did Councillor Choudry apparently share an antisemitic video earlier this year, which earned him his most recent suspension, but he also reportedly did exactly the same in 2016. On that occasion there was no disciplinary action taken.

This is another failure by the Labour Party to effectively tackle anti-Jewish racism, and we can only speculate what the Equalities and Human Rights Commission investigation would have made of it.”

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Links:

• https://www.kilburntimes.co.uk/news/labour-party-lifts-suspension-of-dudden-hill-councillor-1-6775228
• https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/former-labour-mayor-says-he-will-undertake-training-over-antisemitic-video-1.499617
• https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/brent-labour-councillor-shared-video-jibe-at-zionists-a3239631.html