Green councilor apologizes for ‘upsetting’ his speech amid calls for suspension

A Green Party councilor has apologized for “causing outrage over my comments on the Gaza conflict” after he was criticized for his victory speech in local elections when he shouted “Allahu Akbar”.

After being elected for Leeds City Council in the city’s Gipton and Harehills ward on Friday, Mothin Ali said: “We will not be silent. We will raise Gaza’s voice. We will raise the voice of Palestine. Allahu Akbar (God is great).”

In his acceptance speech, recorded on his TikTok channel, Mr Ali stood in front of a Palestinian flag and said: “This is a victory for the people of Gaza.”

The video shows Green Party supporters arguing with their rivals and one of Mr Ali’s team shouting: “Palestine will be free.”

The Leeds Jewish Representative Council has called for Mr Ali’s suspension in a letter to the Green Party leadership, saying the acceptance speech was the culmination of Mr Ali’s “considerable views affecting the Jewish community”.

Mr Ali said the criticism he had received since Friday had left him exposed to “hatred and hostility”, and he pointed out that “Allahu Akbar” was used by Muslims as an expression of gratitude and celebration.

He issued a statement through the Leeds Green Party saying: “I am sorry that my comments on the Gaza conflict have caused an uproar. “That was not my intention.”

Mr Ali said that, like many others around the world, he was “deeply affected by the terrible conflict currently raging in Gaza”.

He added: “I don’t support violence on either side: violence breeds more violence and that’s what I tried to convey.”

“I have repeatedly called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all hostages.

“I hope to soon work with a broad coalition of Jewish and Muslim Greens to discuss meaningful ways we can work to communicate our shared passion to end the conflict.”

Mr Ali said his election last week was “one of the proudest moments of my life” and said his acceptance speech had been misreported, which “led me to face a lot of hate and hostility”.

The councilor added: “I should also clarify that it is not unusual for someone of my faith to use the words ‘Allahu Akbar’ as an expression of gratitude and celebration.” Some have tried to misrepresent this and interpreted it for me that points to Islamophobia.

“I am not a career politician but I have campaigned for Gipton and Harehills for many years and have been called upon time and time again to speak up for these communities and on the issue of Palestine, which I will continue to do.”

Simon Myerson KC, the leader of the Leeds Jewish Representative Council, has published a letter he wrote to the co-leaders of the Green Party, Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, calling for Mr Ali to be suspended.

Mr. Myerson’s letter outlined what he said was Mr. Ali’s “extensive history of views affecting the Jewish community.”

He said: “You have known Mr Ali’s views for some time.

“It has been 48 hours since his election and your silence has now extended beyond the period in which you must have considered – I accept – exactly how to deal with the catastrophic impact of the video of his behavior on his count.”

“It’s time you stop thinking about yourself and think about the people who are directly affected by your decisions. Anyone who wants public support must deign to explain themselves to the public.”

Mr Myerson said: “It is completely wrong that your party is trying to profit from his views and behavior. It contradicts the ethics you pride yourself on. It’s nothing more than hypocrisy.”

Mr Ali won Gipton and Harehills with 3,070 votes – 747 more than his Labor rival.

The Green Party said it was fully investigating the full context of this matter and had nothing further to add at this time.