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| Labour councillor suspended over alleged anti-Semitic remarks | Labour councillor suspended over alleged anti-Semitic remarks |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Labour councillor Mohammed Iqbal has said he is an active campaigner against all forms of racism | |
| A councillor has been suspended after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments at a meeting. | A councillor has been suspended after allegedly making anti-Semitic comments at a meeting. |
| Mohammed Iqbal, a Labour councillor in Lancashire, allegedly made the remarks in a council debate that discussed tensions between Israel and Palestine. | Mohammed Iqbal, a Labour councillor in Lancashire, allegedly made the remarks in a council debate that discussed tensions between Israel and Palestine. |
| Mr Iqbal, the opposition leader for Pendle Council, revealed the suspension himself in a statement and denied being anti-Semitic. | Mr Iqbal, the opposition leader for Pendle Council, revealed the suspension himself in a statement and denied being anti-Semitic. |
| A Labour Party spokesperson said: "We don't comment on individual cases. | |
| The comments were allegedly made during Pendle Council's recent annual meeting, during which an emergency motion was put forward to fly the Palestinian flag above Nelson Town Hall. | |
| The gesture was to mark solidarity with Palestinians after the killing of female journalist Shireen Abu Aqla in Palestine in May. | The gesture was to mark solidarity with Palestinians after the killing of female journalist Shireen Abu Aqla in Palestine in May. |
| Politicians from all sides spoke during the debate and unanimously supported the motion. | Politicians from all sides spoke during the debate and unanimously supported the motion. |
| Complaint made | Complaint made |
| Mr Iqbal is alleged to have made comments comparing Nazi Germany's persecution of Jewish people with more recent events in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. | Mr Iqbal is alleged to have made comments comparing Nazi Germany's persecution of Jewish people with more recent events in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. |
| The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, which has been adopted in full by the Labour Party, states that any comparison of contemporary Israeli policy to that of Nazi Germany is anti-Semitic. | The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of anti-Semitism, which has been adopted in full by the Labour Party, states that any comparison of contemporary Israeli policy to that of Nazi Germany is anti-Semitic. |
| In a statement, Mr Iqbal said: "Following a complaint made against me to the Labour Party alleging recent comments I made in a council meeting were anti-Semitic, I have been suspended as a councillor until the matter is investigated." | |
| He added: "I wish to publicly state I am not anti-Semitic and have campaigned all my life against all forms of racism and sexism and will continue to do so. | |
| "I will work with the Labour Party and anyone else to uphold the principal of everyone living side-by-side in peace and harmony." | "I will work with the Labour Party and anyone else to uphold the principal of everyone living side-by-side in peace and harmony." |
| Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk | Why not follow BBC North West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram? You can also send story ideas to northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk |