Green Party Deputy Leader Demands Apology from Prime Minister Over False Claims
The deputy leader of the Green Party, Mothin Ali, has issued a formal demand for an apology from Prime Minister Keir Starmer after false parliamentary claims about his participation in an anti-war demonstration led to a surge in racist death threats and public harassment. Ali expressed grave fears for his personal safety, stating that the escalating threats have reached a point where he believes "it might get me killed."
Parliamentary Privilege Used to Spread Misinformation
The controversy stems from comments made in the House of Commons on Monday when Conservative MP Alec Shelbrooke falsely claimed that Ali had been "protesting in support of the ayatollah" during a weekend demonstration in Parliament Square. Prime Minister Starmer responded by saying, "I think we were all shocked by the actions of the deputy leader of the Green party," appearing to endorse the inaccurate characterization.
Shelbrooke's remarks, made under parliamentary privilege which protects MPs from legal action for statements in the Commons, also included unsubstantiated suggestions linking Ali to antisemitism. The claims were immediately challenged by Green Party MP Ellie Chowns, who defended her colleague's participation in what was actually a Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Stop the War Coalition organized protest against US and Israeli military actions.
Death Threats and Public Harassment Escalate
Following the parliamentary exchange, Ali received multiple threatening messages including warnings that "we know where to find you," "you have no idea what's coming," and demands to "pack your bags before it's too late." The Green Party councillor revealed that he has been "so scared" by the intensity of the threats that he fears for his life.
In addition to the online threats, Ali reported being recently abused and followed outside Earl's Court tube station in London by a member of the public who threatened to "smash my head in." The deputy leader described how he attempted to record the incident but was shaking so severely he couldn't press the record button on his phone.
Mischaracterization of Anti-War Protest
The demonstration in question was organized by CASMII (Campaign Against Sanctions, Military and Imperial Interventions) with support from established peace organizations. Professor Abbas Edalat, founder of CASMII, clarified that while there were "different tendencies, different ideologies, different positions about the domestic situation in Iran" among participants, the central purpose was protesting "against the illegal, unprovoked attack on Iran" by the US and Israel, with UK government support.
Despite GB News and some politicians characterizing the event as a rally supporting the Iranian regime, photographic and video evidence shows the majority of participants held anti-war placards. A small number of placards featuring Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were present from the Islamic Human Rights Commission, but these were vastly outnumbered by banners from groups including the Women of Colour section of Global Women's Strike and Jewish Network for Palestine.
Pattern of Far-Right Targeting
This incident represents the latest in a series of attacks against Ali, who has been a target for far-right agitators since his election to Leeds City Council in 2024. He was falsely accused by figures including Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (known as Tommy Robinson) of participating in local unrest when in reality he had positioned himself between police and potential aggressors to prevent violence.
Ali believes Starmer's comments represent a "desperate attempt to discredit the Green party" following their recent electoral success in Manchester, where Hannah Spencer became the party's fifth MP. The deputy leader emphasized that the consequences extend beyond personal safety, affecting his family and ongoing political work.
Neither Prime Minister Starmer nor MP Shelbrooke have responded to requests for comment regarding the demands for apology and clarification about the false claims made under parliamentary privilege.
