LONDON: The UK's main opposition party Labour on Monday withdrew support for a candidate vying to become an MP at a by-election later this month over remarks made about Israel, a party spokesperson said.
Azhar Ali was Labour's candidate for the February 29 vote in Rochdale, north west England, following the death last month of sitting MP Tony Lloyd.
But he was forced to apologise after a recording emerged of him at a meeting of the local Labour party, in which he suggested that Israel deliberately allowed Hamas to attack on October 7 in order to justify invading Gaza.
"Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election," said the spokesman.
The party cannot now replace Ali as the nominations have closed.
"We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values," added the spokesman.
Labour were favourites to win the seat, and are heavy favourites to assume power at a general election due to be held later this year.
UK Labour pulls support for candidate over Israel comments
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UK Labour pulls support for candidate over Israel comments
- Ali forced to apologise after suggesting Israel deliberately allowed Hamas to attack on Oct. 7 to justify invading Gaza
Iraq executes a former senior officer under Saddam for the 1980 killing of a Shiite cleric
- Al-Sadr was a leading critic of Saddam’s secular Baathist government whose dissent intensified after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran
- The cleric’s execution in 1980 became a symbol of oppression under Saddam
BAGHDAD: Iraq announced on Monday that a high-level security officer during the rule of Saddam Hussein has been hanged for his involvement in the 1980 killing of a prominent Shiite cleric.
The National Security Service said that Saadoun Sabri Al-Qaisi, who held the rank of major general under Saddam and was arrested last year, was convicted of “grave crimes against humanity,” including the killing of prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric Mohammed Baqir Al-Sadr, members of the Al-Hakim family, and other civilians.
The agency did not say when Al-Qaisi was executed.
Al-Sadr was a leading critic of Iraq’s secular Baathist government and Saddam, his opposition intensifying following the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, which heightened Saddam’s fears of a Shiite-led uprising in Iraq.
In 1980, as the government moved against Shiite activists, Al-Sadr and his sister Bint Al-Huda — a religious scholar and activist who spoke out against government oppression — were arrested. Reports indicate they were tortured before being executed by hanging on April 8, 1980.
The execution sparked widespread outrage at the time and remains a symbol of repression under Saddam’s rule. Saddam was from Iraq’s Sunni minority.
Since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, authorities have pursued former officials accused of crimes against humanity and abuses against political and religious opponents. Iraq has faced criticism from human rights groups over its application of the death penalty.
