Deputy Leader of ‘Cover-Up Council’ publicly shamed by his own brother
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, widely regarded as one of the most troubled, divided and worst-run in the country, is facing more disruption and internal strife. One of its two Deputy Leaders, Cllr Shaid Mushtaq (pictured above), has come under a blistering attack over his attendance at a Holocaust Memorial event last week. From his own…
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council, widely regarded as one of the most troubled, divided and worst-run in the country, is facing more disruption and internal strife.
One of its two Deputy Leaders, Cllr Shaid Mushtaq (pictured above), has come under a blistering attack over his attendance at a Holocaust Memorial event last week. From his own brother, no less.
Popular, well-known community champion and local political activist, Tahir Mushtaq, knocked his younger brother’s standing, in the Muslim dominated Alexandra ward he represents, with this Facebook post headed ‘Holocaust Memorial Day’:
“There is no issue with attending at a school on Holocaust Memorial Day. Rather, as has always been said, ‘we will never forget’ ‘never again’. The horrific tragedy imposed on the Jewish people by the west (for centuries) should never be forgotten.
“HOWEVER, when politicians, especially Muslim politicians, who failed to speak about the ongoing genocide and holocaust against the Palestinian people, yet openly attend Holocaust Memorial Day, that is HYPOCRISY.
“The Jewish holocaust has come and gone but there is a genocide, a holocaust, ethnic cleansing, war crimes… they are ongoing TODAY.
It is deeply disappointing and disturbing to see such HYPOCRISY for material wealth and positions of power.
“SHAID MUSHTAQ, as a community leader what will you say on the day of Qayamah [Judgement Day]? I sold my imman [faith, belief] for money and power?”
Tahir later added:
“I can’t comprehend the fact that my own siblings would stay silent in such matters. I have been active on social media promoting the plight of the Palestinan people for more than a decade.
“My Facebook wall is a testimony to this fact. Week in week out I posted about the attrocities that were perpetrated by Israel, at times posting multiple times a day. That even when there was no acceleration of Israel’s brutal Occupation.
“They have clearly illustrated they are not our representatives they are their own and may as well step on the zionist podium”.
The post attracted support from influential figures in Oldham both publicly and many others who contacted Tahir privately. Numerous stakeholders also contacted him to request that the post, although true, be taken down as it damaged Cllr Mushtaq’s and the Oldham Labour Group’s standing in the community.
Omar Sharif, who spearheaded the hugely successful #TeamArooj campaign that saw Cllr Arooj Shah sweep to a landslide victory in the last local elections, and a return to the Oldham Labour and Council Leadership, said: “Real talk. This is what you call speaking up for the brothers and sisters in Palestine.”
Cllr Shah, for her part, managed to duck the Holocaust Memorial and the controversy that followed by sending Shaid Mushtaq as her Deputy (read more here). Although she has yet to provide a reason for her absence, other than she is a notable pro-Palestinian activist, it now, with hindsight, looks to have caused more trouble than it was worth.
Cllr Mushtaq was offered right of reply and has provided this statement:
“A large number of examples provided to Neil Wilby Media, both from social media, a letter that appeared in The Times newspaper and private correspondence with, for example, three local MPs, clearly show my support for Palestine and an end to the conflict in Gaza.”
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Page last updated: Thursday 1st February, 2024 at 0845 hours
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