A member of the Green Party who recently authored a controversial conference motion regarding Zionism was previously identified in US court files as a close associate of an individual convicted of terror-related offenses linked to al-Qaeda.
Lubna Speitan, a British-Palestinian artist and political figure, put forward the motion at the party's recent gathering. The policy declaration characterizes Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state and advocates for the establishment of a single democratic government across the entirety of historic Palestine.
Court records from 2015 indicate that Speitan offered to serve as a defense witness in the American trial of Minh Quang Pham. Pham, a British national born in Vietnam, was apprehended at London's Heathrow Airport in July 2011 after returning from Yemen and was subsequently extradited to the United States. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to three charges associated with backing al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and received a 40-year prison sentence, though he disputed allegations that he intended to carry out a suicide bombing at the airport's arrival terminal.
Legal documents show that Speitan was characterized as a close companion of the defendant and was prepared to offer testimony concerning his psychological condition to aid his defense. A medical issue ultimately prevented her from traveling to deliver her evidence in person. However, she later submitted a written statement to the presiding federal judge, describing Pham as exceptionally honest, sincere, and deserving of high esteem.
While the court files contain no indication that Speitan was aware of any illegal activities during their association, she reportedly affirmed in subsequent media inquiries that she maintains her friendship with him and believes he was unfairly targeted by judicial authorities.
The emergence of these historical court documents adds to the intense fallout surrounding the Green Party's newly adopted motion. The resolution has triggered immediate political repercussions, resulting in travel restrictions for Green leader Zack Polanski, formal complaints to national equality regulators from opposition politicians, and strong condemnation from various Jewish community organizations.
Additionally, the policy has caused internal friction within the Green Party itself, prompting some local councillors to resign and leading party representatives to address mounting divisions. A party spokesperson emphasized that while Speitan holds no official organizational role, any allegations or expressions of views misaligned with institutional values are handled through established internal investigative procedures.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC News. Read the original report at BBC News.
