BRADFORD’S Labour party has found itself embroiled in another anti-Semitism row, after shortlisting for political office a woman who faced criticism for a series of controversial posts about Jews.
Former Respect activist Nasreen Khan issued an apology after making a series of posts about Jews on Facebook five years ago.
Last night Ms Khan, who has since joined the Labour Party, said she had apologised for the comments she made about a video called 'The Palestine you need to know' and accepted they were “inappropriate and unacceptable”.
In 2012 using the name Naz Kahn she said: “It’s such a shame that the history teachers in our school never taught us this but they are the first to start brainwashing us and our children into thinking the bad guy was Hitler.
“What have the Jews done good in this world??”
When questioned about the comment, she had added: “No, I’m not a Nazi, I’m an ordinary British Muslim that had an opinion and put it across. We have worse people than Hitler in this world now.”
And, facing further criticism, she had said: “Stop beating a dead horse. The Jews have reaped the rewards of playing victims. Enough is enough!!”
The remarks made headlines at the time, prompting a spokesman for Respect to say Ms Khan had made the comments before joining their party and "now deeply regrets and repudiates that posting".
Having quit Respect and joined Labour, it is understood she has passed initial background checks for potential election candidates and is now on a two-person shortlist for the Labour nomination in the safe seat of Little Horton at next year’s local elections. A final decision is due today.
Ms Khan confirmed to the T&A that she was on the shortlist. Later she said in a statement: “I have been honest, frank and held my hand up regarding comments I made on Facebook over five years ago.
“I was challenged immediately about my language and apologised straight away. I accept fully that it was inappropriate and unacceptable.
“I have travelled a long way since then and learned so much. I profoundly regret the comments I made in 2012 and any offence they caused.”
But Bradford Council’s Conservative group leader, Councillor Simon Cooke, said: “The Labour Party really has got to get itself sorted out. These are just not the sort of views that are acceptable. The Labour Party shouldn’t have people like that as candidates.”
He said retractions were “easily said”.
He added: “It really is concerning if the Labour Party is selecting people with these kinds of views, even if they are historic. I think we need to be very careful.
“At the moment, it looks like an absolutely terrible decision by the Labour Party.”
A spokesman for the Labour Party said it did not comment on internal party selection matters.
Labour has faced repeated accusations of failing to deal with anti-Semitism in recent years.
In April 2016, Bradford West MP Naz Shah was suspended from the party over comments she made on Facebook about Israel and Jews.
Ms Shah apologised to the House of Commons, saying she accepted that “the words I used caused upset and hurt to the Jewish community and I deeply regret that”.
In the aftermath of Ms Shah’s suspension, former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone was also suspended from the party after making controversial comments about Hitler.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn then ordered an investigation into alleged anti-Semitism and racism in the Labour party. The inquiry, run by Shami Chakrabarti, found that the party “is not overrun by anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or other forms of racism”.
UPDATE: 11/11
The Telegraph & Argus has been informed that the final decision on who to appoint will be made on Friday November 17, and not yesterday as we were originally told.
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