Jewish Labour groups condemn MP for inviting top Houthi figure to Commons

A Labour backbencher has risked a fresh anti-semitism row after he was criticised for inviting a leading figure from the Houthi movement to the Commons.



The Sun revealed that Brighton Kemptown MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle will host Ahmed Alshami at a Stop the War Coalition meeting on Tuesday.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, are fighting the democratically-elected Yemeni government, who are supported by Saudi Arabia, in a brutal civil war.

The Islamic rebel group’s slogan reads: “God is great, death to the US, death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory for Islam.”

Mr Alshami is an international spokesman for the group, as well as an executive director of the controversial Arabian Rights Watch Association.

Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said: “It is utterly appalling that a Labour MP would host in Parliament the mouthpiece of a violent, Iranian-backed terror group which preaches hatred against Jews and the state of Israel.

“In the fight against anti-semitism in the Labour party, there are only two sides and Lloyd Russell-Moyle has again shamefully chosen to ally himself with those who defend and propagate anti-Jewish racism.”

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Jewish Labour Movement said: "Labour being investigated for institutional anti-Jewish racism by the EHRC clearly didn't put Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP off hosting a group in Parliament whose slogan includes the words 'death to Israel, curse the Jews'. He should reconsider and rescind this invitation."

Mr Russell-Moyle told The Sun that the meeting would help the push for peace in Yemen, adding: “Labour supports all efforts to bring about a peace settlement in Yemen, which means encouraging dialogue with people on all sides, however much we disagree with their views - a task made harder by the UK government supporting and arming the Saudi-led forces.”