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A rising Labour Party star was the guest of honour at the launch of an exhibition by a Church of Scientology offshoot that blames the 9/11 World Trade Centre terror attack on psychiatrists.

Birmingham’s youngest councillor Mariam Khan said she had no idea that the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) preaches that psychiatrists are “terrorists” and mental illnesses do not exist.

The 24-year-old, who Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn recently promoted to the party’s national policy forum, cut the ribbon to unveil the group’s mobile exhibition stall.

Last night critics accused the Muslim hijab-wearing Khan, councillor for Washwood Heath, as being “naïve” and an “attention seeker.”

CCHR was set up in 1969 by Scientologists and is an aggressive opponent of any form of psychiatry, labelling it a sham and money-making ruse.

Its more outlandish beliefs include blaming 9/11 on psychiatry by suggesting that Al Qaida’s former No 2 – and now leader – Dr Ayman Zwahiri hypnotised Osama bin Laden into carrying out the attack.

Brian Daniels, a scientologist who heads the UK chapter of CCHR, said he had invited Ms Khan because she appeared “sympathetic to our views.”

“Mariam Khan is a very active person in the community, and is concerned for the welfare of the people and children,” he said.

“She was alarmed about the rising statistics of children being prescribed powerful psychiatric drugs and spoke of this issue at the opening.”

But concerned Labour party activists have been quick to downplay any connections, claiming Coun Khan had no idea what the exhibition she unveiled was all about.

A Labour Party spokesman said: “Councillor Mariam Khan attended an event on June 29 on mental health hosted by the ‘Citizens Commission on Human Rights’.

“Councillor Khan was unaware of the organisation’s aims, values or their affiliation with the Church of Scientology prior to attending the event.

“Councillor Khan is not a member of the CCHR or The Church of Scientology and she does not endorse the views of either organisation.”

More than 100 people turned up for the opening in Chamberlain Square next to the city’s historic Town Hall. Its members had gathered to picket and protest at the Royal College of Psychiatry’s annual convention at the nearby International Convention Centre.

Mr Daniels said: “Our mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health and it is a matter of sound medical fact that undiagnosed physical illness or injury can trigger emotional difficulties.

“Several studies show that those diagnosed with mental illness were actually suffering from a physical condition. The resolution of many mental difficulties begins with a thorough physical examination from a competent medical, not psychiatric, doctor.”

His views were refuted by leading psychiatrist Dr Andy Montgomery, of Psychiatry.uk, who labelled the group as “dangerous.”

“It is a group that draws in vulnerable people and Coun Khan who should know better. Their views are dangerous because mentally ill people are susceptible to messages proclaiming an easy solution.

“CCHR has been active in the UK for a while and its beliefs, quite frankly, are bizarre and completely misguided.”

Monica Shafaq, Chief Executive Officer of Midland mental health charity Kaleidoscope Plus Group, said CCHR only served to undermine valuable work carried out by legitimate mental health workers.

She added: “It appears to be a grave error of judgement by Coun Khan and great publicity coup for CCHR to have had her at their exhibition.”

Mariam Khan grew up just off the Alum Rock Road and attended primary schools in Ward End.

Her exposure to the world of politics began at a young age, with her elder family being longstanding Labour party members, and her uncle Ansar Ali Khan has been a Washwood Heath councillor for a decade.

The young inner city councillor last week became one of five West Midlands representatives on the Labour Party’s influential National Policy Forum – a body which will be consulted by the new Jeremy Corbyn regime.

She was also confirmed as the new chairman of the Eid Mela Committee, responsible for organising running one of the largest Muslim cultural festivals in the country.