Jon Stewart shocked after Labour drops candidate Faiza Shaheen for liking old skit

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Comedian Jon Stewart Reacts to UK Labour Party’s Suspension of Faiza Shaheen

In a surprising turn of events, the UK’s Labour Party has dropped parliamentary candidate Faiza Shaheen for liking posts critical of Israel and its supporters, sparking outrage and disbelief from American-Jewish comedian Jon Stewart.

The news of Shaheen’s suspension broke late on Wednesday, with the London School of Economics academic expressing her shock during an interview on BBC Newsnight shortly after learning about the decision. Shaheen, who is contesting the constituency of Chingford and Woodford Green in London, described her state of disbelief and shared that sentiment with others in her constituency.

The posts that Shaheen liked include one that accused “professional organizations” of harassing critics of Israel, as well as a 2014 skit by Jon Stewart in which he humorously addressed the challenges of criticizing Israel’s behavior as a Jew.

Upon hearing about Shaheen’s suspension, Stewart took to Twitter to express his incredulity, calling it “the dumbest thing the UK has done since electing Boris Johnson.”

Middle East Eye has reached out to the Labour Party for comment on the matter.

During her interview on Newsnight, Shaheen distanced herself from some of the liked posts but maintained that she did not believe they warranted her suspension. She acknowledged the problematic nature of certain statements in the posts and apologized for them, but emphasized that she did not agree with the suspension.

The move against Shaheen is part of a broader trend within the Labour Party to purge its left wing and critics of Israel. Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn had the whip removed after facing accusations of antisemitism, which he denies. Corbyn has since announced that he will stand as an independent candidate in the upcoming general election.

Additionally, Corbyn’s ally Diane Abbott revealed that she was barred from standing for Labour in the election, although Labour leader Keir Starmer has denied this claim.

Shaheen, a Muslim woman and supporter of Corbyn, is considered to be on the party’s left wing. The shift in Labour’s stance towards a more pro-Israel position under Starmer’s leadership has been evident, including initial support for Israel’s blockade on Gaza during the recent conflict, followed by a call for a humanitarian ceasefire.

As the political landscape continues to evolve within the Labour Party, the suspension of Faiza Shaheen has sparked debate and criticism from various quarters, including comedian Jon Stewart, who remains incredulous at the decision. The fallout from this incident is likely to have far-reaching implications for the party and its approach to issues related to Israel and antisemitism.