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Jeremy Corbyn backtracks over claim he had never met Lebanese activist Jeremy Corbyn backtracks over claim he had never met Lebanese activist
(34 minutes later)
Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn has admitted meeting a Lebanese activist later banned from the UK by the Home Office on the grounds of extremism, despite saying just hours earlier that he had never heard of the man. Corbyn changed his position after initially telling the BBC’s World at One that he did not know Dyab Abou Jahjah, a founder of the Arab European League.Labour leadership frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn has admitted meeting a Lebanese activist later banned from the UK by the Home Office on the grounds of extremism, despite saying just hours earlier that he had never heard of the man. Corbyn changed his position after initially telling the BBC’s World at One that he did not know Dyab Abou Jahjah, a founder of the Arab European League.
The activist was banned from re-entering the UK by former home secretary Jacqui Smith in 2009, shortly after sharing a platform with Corbyn at an anti-war meeting and parliamentary meeting that was also attended by a Hezbollah MP. The activist was banned from re-entering the UK by former home secretary Jacqui Smith in 2009 shortly after sharing a platform with Corbyn at an anti-war meeting and parliamentary meeting that was also attended by a Hezbollah MP.
Asked about a newspaper report drawing attention to the link, Corbyn initially said: “Sorry, who? I saw the name this morning and I asked somebody, ‘Who is he?’” However, his office later clarified that the men had met six years ago, after a photograph of the pair sharing a platform began to circulate on Twitter.Asked about a newspaper report drawing attention to the link, Corbyn initially said: “Sorry, who? I saw the name this morning and I asked somebody, ‘Who is he?’” However, his office later clarified that the men had met six years ago, after a photograph of the pair sharing a platform began to circulate on Twitter.
In a statement, Corbyn said: “My staff have researched this and tell me that I did meet this man in 2009 but I have no recollection of him. As an MP I have met thousands of people over the years. Because I meet them, it does not mean I share their views or endorse their views.”In a statement, Corbyn said: “My staff have researched this and tell me that I did meet this man in 2009 but I have no recollection of him. As an MP I have met thousands of people over the years. Because I meet them, it does not mean I share their views or endorse their views.”
Responding on Twitter to Corbyn’s claim not to know him, Abou Jahjah said: “Whatever reasons made Mr Corbyn say this are for him to know and for us to guess.”Responding on Twitter to Corbyn’s claim not to know him, Abou Jahjah said: “Whatever reasons made Mr Corbyn say this are for him to know and for us to guess.”
Because I meet them, it does not mean I share their views or endorse their viewsBecause I meet them, it does not mean I share their views or endorse their views
He added that the fact they had shared a platform was “beyond any doubt and is documented and resulted in my ban to enter the UK. But maybe he forgot all about it. Who knows.” Abou Jahjah also told LBC Radio: “We had, I think, two times lunch or breakfast together so I cannot say that Mr Corbyn is a personal friend, but he is absolutely a political friend.” He said the fact they had shared a platform was “beyond any doubt and is documented and resulted in my ban to enter the UK. But maybe he forgot all about it. Who knows”. Abou Jahjah also told LBC Radio: “We had, I think, two times lunch or breakfast together so I cannot say that Mr Corbyn is a personal friend, but he is absolutely a political friend.”
Abou Jahjah is reported by a Flemish magazine to have said in 2004: “I consider every dead American, British and Dutch soldier a victory.” In a blog post, he said it was a misrepresentation to claim that he rejoices in the death of British soldiers. “As for rejoicing the death of British occupation soldiers in Iraq, this is a misrepresentation of a position that I still uphold until this day,” he wrote. Abou Jahjah is reported by a Flemish magazine to have said in 2004: “I consider every dead American, British and Dutch soldier a victory.” In a blogpost, he said it was a misrepresentation to claim that he rejoiced in the death of British soldiers. “As for rejoicing the death of British occupation soldiers in Iraq, this is a misrepresentation of a position that I still uphold until this day,” he wrote.
“The occupation and destruction of Iraq in 2003 was unlawful, criminal and a crime against humanity. We still witness the repercussions of that terrible crime until this day. The criminals responsible for it, including Tony Blair, are still at large enjoying impunity.“The occupation and destruction of Iraq in 2003 was unlawful, criminal and a crime against humanity. We still witness the repercussions of that terrible crime until this day. The criminals responsible for it, including Tony Blair, are still at large enjoying impunity.
“Every soldier taking part in an illegal occupation is a legitimate target for resistance. This is a guaranteed right of resistance to all occupied people under international law. However, rejoicing the death of people, even enemy soldiers, is not something that I would do. Rejoicing the victory of peoples resistance against occupation, is another matter.” “Every soldier taking part in an illegal occupation is a legitimate target for resistance. This is a guaranteed right of resistance to all occupied people under international law. However, rejoicing the death of people, even enemy soldiers, is not something that I would do. Rejoicing the victory of peoples’ resistance against occupation is another matter.”
Corbyn was asked about Abou Jahjah and questions raised by the Jewish Chronicle about his past association with a Holocaust denier and antisemitic figures as he took part in a question and answer session. During the debate, he told BBC listeners that it was “beyond appalling, disgusting and deeply offensive” to suggest that he holds antisemitic or racist views. Corbyn was asked about Abou Jahjah and questions raised by the Jewish Chronicle about his past association with a Holocaust denier and antisemitic figures as he took part in a question and answer session. H told BBC listeners that it was “beyond appalling, disgusting and deeply offensive” to suggest that he held antisemitic or racist views.
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“I’ve spent my life opposing racism. Until my dying day, I’ll be opposed to racism in any form,” he said. “Antisemitism, Islamophobia, far-right racism is totally wrong and absolutely obnoxious and I’ve made that absolutely clear to everybody who will listen to me on this subject,” he added later.“I’ve spent my life opposing racism. Until my dying day, I’ll be opposed to racism in any form,” he said. “Antisemitism, Islamophobia, far-right racism is totally wrong and absolutely obnoxious and I’ve made that absolutely clear to everybody who will listen to me on this subject,” he added later.
Corbyn also said his use of the word “friends” for Hamas was used as “diplomatic language” and had been taken “seriously out of context”. He added that “dialogue is essential if we are to bring about a long-term peace process” in the Middle East. “I think we have to have a discussion that includes Hamas ... There are people who think we can have a peace process by ignoring them, sadly that cannot be the case.” Corbyn said his use of the word “friends” for Hamas was used as “diplomatic language” and had been taken “seriously out of context”. He added that “dialogue is essential if we are to bring about a long-term peace process” in the Middle East. “I think we have to have a discussion that includes Hamas ... There are people who think we can have a peace process by ignoring them, sadly that cannot be the case.”
The MP for Islington North has previously said that he did attend a few meetings some years ago of a group called Deir Yassin Remembered, founded by Paul Eisen, a Holocaust denier. However, Corbyn said Eisen certainly did not hold those antisemitic views publicly at the time and he would never have associated with the group if he had known. The MP for Islington North has previously said he did attend a few meetings some years ago of a group called Deir Yassin Remembered, founded by Paul Eisen, a Holocaust denier. However, Corbyn said Eisen certainly did not hold those antisemitic views publicly at the time and he would never have associated with the group if he had known.
Last week, the Jewish Chronicle published a front-page editorial saying he had questions to answer about alleged links with people who have used antisemitic rhetoric. Since then, a group of dozens of prominent activists have signed an open letter to the newspaper saying its assertion that most British Jews were worried about a Corbyn victory was “without foundation”.Last week, the Jewish Chronicle published a front-page editorial saying he had questions to answer about alleged links with people who have used antisemitic rhetoric. Since then, a group of dozens of prominent activists have signed an open letter to the newspaper saying its assertion that most British Jews were worried about a Corbyn victory was “without foundation”.