The Labour Party is poised to suspend Faiza Shaheen, its candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, due to her liking tweets that criticized Israel and dismissed antisemitism accusations. Shaheen, who nearly defeated Iain Duncan Smith in 2019, has been a prominent figure in her constituency and is known for her academic and activist work. The decision has sparked significant backlash, with critics accusing the Labour leadership of targeting a woman of color and undermining democracy. Shaheen's supporters argue that her suspension is unjust, especially given her contributions to the community and the party. The controversy includes a tweet describing a Jon Stewart segment and an interview with Shaheen on Newsnight.
Faiza Shaheen liked a friend's tweet about the Green Party, years ago, when she wasn't even Labour Party member, and is told that's part of why she's banned. Yet Elphicke spent years slagging Labour & she's fine?! https://t.co/gS9pRAXVUh
Labour suspends Faiza Shaheen for 'liking' something that suggest there is an Israel lobby then selects a Labour MP candidate whose is an Israel lobbyist.
The full ten minutes of @faizashaheen on #newsnight. Faiza gave this interview only an hour after being told her candidacy had been blocked for liking a tweet. The people of Chingford and Woodford Green have been done a terrible disservice. https://t.co/tYZ4ybr4xg
It's hard to watch Newsnight. Just huge sorrow & heartbreak for @faizashaheen. Who treats people like that? To find your whole campaign has been cancelled by an email a few days before nominations. It's callous. It's cruel. And it's a mark of who they are. Solidarity, Faiza.
Tonight @faizashaheen told BBC Newsnight she is NOT allowed to stand for Labour at the forthcoming general election for liking tweets. https://t.co/pp17rFtDIV
So painful to watch @faizashaheen on #Newsnight just now - she’s been treated appallingly. Coming on the heels of the deliberate humiliation of @HackneyAbbott, it speaks volumes about those in Labour leadership who apparently care so little about democracy - or even basic decency
Faiza Shaheen is almost certainly deselected for liking a pro-Gaza tweet. This is the Labour Party of today. We have to wake up. I hope @faizashaheen stands as an independent and joins a genuine movement for change.
That was a very very moving interview with @faizashaheen on Newsnight. Everyone involved in the deselection process should feel thoroughly ashamed.
I watched the interview with @faizashaheen, who Labour has purged as a candidate, on @BBCNewsnight. Daughter of a mechanic, a Muslim woman of colour, an accomplished academic, an incredible campaigner. Purged for nothing. The Labour leadership are a vile disgrace. https://t.co/r2Im52UJWp
Newsnight’s interview with @faizashaheen was absolutely shocking to watch. Faiza is a hardworking community activist who would’ve been a great MP. Keir Starmer and his team should feel absolutely ashamed of themselves for treating her so awfully. Do not vote Labour.
I’m watching @faizashaheen on Newsnight now. She’s visibly shaken, voice breaking, exhausted from campaigning. Fuck Keir Starmer
Faiza Shaheen is being barred from standing because she liked a tweet criticising Israel, while Luke Akehurst, who is a literal Israel lobbyist, has been selected — a party in complete service to Tel Aviv. https://t.co/rfijdMmPer
Labour are poised to purge Faiza Shaheen because she liked this tweet. It's a tweet describing a @jonstewart segment about how Israel's apologists behave when you speak out about atrocities committed by Israel. This is a deranged excuse for a pretext. https://t.co/i345KO4sCB
For those still in Labour, @faizashaheen was probably the last bit of hope to hang on to the party. Faiza has done all the groundwork in her home constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green. It is shocking that Labour are even considering this. Imagine what a party like this… https://t.co/k5jy8KPkUb
🚨 NEW: Labour is set to suspend its candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green after she liked a series of tweets dismissing antisemitism accusations from the “hysterical” Israel lobby [@thetimes] https://t.co/7QyZGz3Lcv
Labour are threatening to purge yet another women of colour. Faiza Shaheen is one of the best candidates the party has. The 'charges' against her include liking tweets rightly accusing Israel of genocide and challenging institutional Islamophobia. https://t.co/SK7l1bxB4r
EXC w/ @Gabriel_Pogrund: Labour are poised to suspend Faiza Shaheen, who nearly beat IDS in 2019, as candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green https://t.co/RzvOzJuQQQ https://t.co/gA895ka9RB