Greens investigate party member behind Zionism motion
The UK Green Party is investigating member Lubna Speitan after court documents linked her to a convicted al-Qaeda supporter. Speitan, who authored a controversial motion labeling Zionism as racism, has dismissed the allegations as a distraction from the situation in Gaza.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights internal political tensions regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict and the vetting of party members in the UK.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Lubna Speitan gave evidence on behalf of a British national who was accused of plotting to carry out a suicide attack at Heathrow Airport
The Green Party has launched an investigation into party member Lubna Speitan, after it emerged she was listed in court documents as a "close friend" of a man later jailed for supporting al-Qaeda.
Speitan was behind a controversial Green Party conference motion which described Zionism as a form of racism.
A Green Party spokesperson said: "Where members have expressed views that do not fit in with the party's values, we have internal processes to investigate and an investigation is underway."
In a post on Instagram, before the Green Party had confirmed its investigation to the BBC, Speitan said: "I reject all defamatory and nonsense claims made about me."
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