Sarwar questions whether new Labour MSP called for Israel’s 'crushing defeat’
Irshad Ahmed reportedly made the comments in Urdu during a speech in 2024
Anas Sarwar has questioned the translation of a speech by a new Labour MSP who it is claimed called for Israel to suffer a “crushing defeat” just months after the October 7 Hamas attack.
The Scottish Labour leader said Irshad Ahmed, who represents the Edinburgh and Lothians East region, had “clarified” his comments, and queried the translation of the remarks used by a newspaper.
The row centres on a speech Mr Ahmed made in Urdu at a Pakistani cultural centre on January 7, 2024, three months after the attacks on southern Israel.
According to a translation published in the Daily Telegraph, the newly elected MSP said: “Friends, there are a few things linked to year 2023 that has passed which we need to remember, especially those matters which have taken place in Palestine, we all condemn it as Muslims.
“And since 2024 has come, I ask all of you to pray that Allah gives freedom to Palestine and may Allah free the Muslims of Palestine who are victims of oppression, and may Israel get a crushing defeat.”
Tim Eagle, the Scottish Conservative chief whip, said the remarks were “absolutely beyond the pale”.
He added: “Anas Sarwar must take urgent action to sanction this newly elected MSP, to demonstrate to Scotland’s Jewish community that Scottish Labour will not tolerate these comments.”
Timothy Lovat, the chairman of the Jewish Council of Scotland, told the Telegraph: “This is entirely unacceptable from anyone, but from someone purporting to be in a position of power is inexcusable.”
In a statement, Mr Ahmed said: “All lives should be valued equally and I want people in both Israel and Palestine to be able to live in peace and security. I want to see stability in the region and a two-state solution that provides lasting peace.”
Scottish Labour is the joint second largest party in Holyrood with Reform UK, with both on 17 seats, so any move to withdraw the whip would be significant.
Speaking to journalists in the Scottish Parliament, Mr Sarwar indicated no action would be taken.
“Look, there can be an argument about right translations et cetera,” he said. “I think we need to be really, really careful though, that just because someone has said something in a different language that somehow people should add an air of suspicion on top of that."
Asked how he would translate the comments, Mr Sarwar said: "My understanding from what he has said is that he wants the war to end, that he wants the people in Gaza to be free, and for those who are oppressed to have safety and that [he] wants the people of Israel and Palestine to live in peace side by side in a two-state solution."
He queried the translation of "crushing" defeat, adding: "That's not certainly the translation that I felt from what he said."
Asked if Mr Ahmed would face any sanction, the Scottish Labour leader said: “Look, he’s clarified his comments, and I think we just again have to be really, really careful.
“There have been other politicians in this parliament who have said the exact same thing in English, and a presumption is made because someone is speaking in a different language, or from a different faith, or a different colour.
“I think people need to be very, very careful about making those presumptions because I think there’s other things at play in some of that.”
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