The Media Office of the Legislative Council in Gaza issued a press statement on the 23 June 2022 regarding the campaign against Apsana Begum, a British Labour Party politician serving as the Member of Parliament for Poplar and Limehouse since 2019, for her solidarity with Palestine
The Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza expresses its solidarity with the British Muslim Labor MP, Absana Begum, after she was subjected to a systematic campaign of persecution and distortion of her solidarity and support for Palestine.
The Council condemns the campaigns launched by Zionist and right-wing movements in support of the Israeli occupation against supporters of the Palestinian right, including parliamentarians, politicians, intellectuals, and artists.
The Council affirms the failure of all attempts by the occupation and its agents to silence the free voices that support the rightful Palestinian cause and expose the ugly face of the inhumane Israeli occupation.
Begum, who is of Bangladeshi origin, made history in 2019 by becoming the first Muslim female wearing a hjiab to be elected as a Member of Parliament. Despite winning what is a safe seat for the Labour Party, her three years in office have been far from smooth sailing.
Begum, 32, has had to endure a barrage of “vexatious” attacks from her enemies, both locally and nationally. Begum has been a victim of Labour’s civil war, where the current leadership under Kier Starmer is accused of leading a vicious campaign to “purge” supporters of the former leader, Jeremy Corbyn, including pro-Palestinian party members and MPs.
In a case described as being “motivated by malevolent intent,” Begum overcame a “vexatious” attempt to accuse her of housing fraud last summer. In a case initiated by Tower Hamlets council, Begum was exonerated by a jury of allegations of housing fraud. “The last 18 months of false accusations, online sexist, racist, and Islamophobic abuse, and threats to my safety, have been immensely difficult as a survivor of domestic abuse facing these vexatious charges,” Begum said following her victory.
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