Greens’ Mothin Ali sparks fury after being spotted at pro-Iran rally | Politics | News
Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali was photographed at a pro-Iran demonstration in London (Image: Getty)
Political outrage erupted after Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali was photographed at a demonstration in support of the Iranian regime in London during a weekend of escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The rally coincided with joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran, and on the same evening, separate meetings commemorating the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei took place in the capital.
Footage from the protest showed crowds waving pro-regime flags and chanting “Death to America” and “Khamenei, you make us proud.” The footage also shows an American flag being set on fire, as well as a lion and sun banner linked to Iranian opposition movements.
The banners accused the United States and Israel of “terrorism” and urged viewers to “choose the right side of history.”
Mr Ali’s attendance triggered a furious backlash in Westminster.
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Addressing MPs, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Green deputy leader’s actions “shocked us all” and added that he was “not surprised given their recent change of direction”, GB News reported.
He went further to criticize the party’s general foreign policy stance: “I must say that the Green Party’s assertion that now is the time to leave NATO and negotiate with Putin over our nuclear weapons is contrary to British national interests.”
Alec Shelbrooke, the Conservative MP for Wetherby and Easingwold, told the House of Commons he was “horrified, but not shocked, I’m afraid” by the Leeds City councillor’s presence.
Addressing the matter directly to the Prime Minister, Sir Alec asked if he shared his anger at “the Green Party’s deputy leader protesting in support of the Ayatollah at the weekend”.
He added: “I’m afraid the Green Party has become a magnet for all the people it rightly kicked out of the Labor Party.
“The hatred and fear that currently prevails in Leeds, and has been fueled at times by Councilor Mothin, is a disgrace.”
Green MP Ellie Chowns then began defending her colleague, accusing Sir Alec of “attacking the reputation” of Mr Ali, the report said.
“(Mothin) Ali participated in CND’s anti-war protest to support the principles of being anti-war and pro-democracy and diplomacy,” he said.
The protest took place in London on Saturday. (Image: Getty)
Ms Chowns also made clear that the party viewed military action by the US and Israel as an “illegal war” that “does not make the world a safer place”.
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat responded to harsh criticism, accusing the Greens of siding “with those who are killing young Iranians in search of a better life and freedom”.
It was stated that the march was partly organized by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, which William Shawcross described in his 2023 Prevent review as “an Islamist group ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime”.
Following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, the group issued a statement hailing him as “a rare role model who resisted oppression and stood on the right side of history.”
This incident intensified scrutiny of the Green Party’s foreign policy stance; Opponents argued that the weekend’s events deepened concerns about the course of the party at a time when global instability was increasing.
Mr Ali was asked for comment by the Express through the Green Party press office.
