The short version
- Lubna Speitan, who proposed the Green Party motion equating Zionism with racism, was identified in court documents as a close friend of Minh Quang Pham.
- Pham was sentenced to forty years in prison in the United States for supporting al-Qaeda after being accused of plotting a suicide attack at Heathrow Airport.
- The revelation has accelerated internal divisions within the Green Party, leading to resignations and formal complaints to equality watchdogs.
The Green Party is confronting severe internal fragmentation following the emergence of court documents linking Lubna Speitan, a member who authored a controversial party motion, to a convicted supporter of al-Qaeda. Speitan proposed the resolution that defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state, a measure that passed at the party conference and has since triggered widespread criticism from Jewish organizations and political rivals.
Legal filings from 2015 identify Speitan as a close friend of Minh Quang Pham, a British national who was extradited to the United States and sentenced to forty years in prison. Pham pleaded guilty to three counts of supporting al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula after being accused of plotting a suicide bombing at Heathrow Airport’s arrivals area. US prosecutors alleged that Pham had received training in Yemen from Anwar al-Awlaki, an al-Qaeda leader, before his arrest in London in 2011.
The court records indicate that Speitan was intended to provide testimony regarding Pham’s mental state during his trial. Documents describe her potential evidence as crucial for establishing a mental health defense and bearing on the issue of guilt. Although she did not testify in person due to a medical condition, she later wrote to the presiding judge describing Pham as one of the kindest and most sincere people she had known.
In her correspondence with the court, Speitan suggested that if the judge had fully understood Pham’s character, the case might have been dismissed entirely. She acknowledged that he may have developed behavioral issues but maintained high regard for his honesty and trustworthiness. There is no indication in the available documents that Speitan was aware of Pham’s alleged criminal activities at the time they were acquainted.
The connection between Speitan and Pham has intensified scrutiny of the Green Party’s recent policy shift. The motion she authored calls for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. In response to the adoption of this policy, Israel banned Green leader Zack Polanski from entering the country, while Jewish groups characterized the move as an attack on their community.
Political opponents have escalated their response by reporting the party to Great Britain’s equality watchdog. Some members of Parliament from the Labour and Liberal Democrat parties have joined these complaints, arguing that the motion crosses the line into antisemitism. Speitan has not responded to requests for comment regarding the new revelations, though previous reports indicate she believes Pham was targeted by the system.
Internal dissent within the Green Party has grown sharply since the vote. Phil Davies, the deputy leader in Wales, resigned and cancelled his membership, describing the motion as the final nail in the coffin for the party’s integrity. Other councillors have also stepped down, citing concerns that the new policy violates core party values and alienates Jewish members.
Leader Zack Polanski has attempted to manage the crisis by releasing a statement affirming that antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state must remain distinct. He emphasized that no one should be excluded from the party based on their religious or communal identity. However, the party faces ongoing pressure as it navigates accusations of harboring extremist views while trying to maintain unity among its diverse membership base.
The Green Party has stated that it takes all allegations seriously and has internal processes to investigate members whose views may not align with party values. As the political fallout continues, the incident highlights the deepening polarization surrounding Israel-Palestine discourse in British politics and the challenges faced by parties attempting to balance progressive foreign policy stances with commitments to community inclusion.
With no immediate resolution in sight, the Green Party remains divided over how to address the controversy. The intersection of personal associations, legal histories, and ideological debates has created a complex environment for leadership. Observers note that the situation may have long-term implications for the party’s electoral prospects and its ability to engage with Jewish communities across the United Kingdom.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Green member behind Zionism motion named as 'close friend' of jailed al-Qaeda supporter in court
