A Manchester councillor who was found guilty of breaching the Council’s code of conduct after allegations of racism and Islamophobia were levelled against him has been suspended from the Labour Party.
An official investigation into Councillor Mark Hackett found that he had abused and intimidated his victim, a Muslim man who along with his Christian wife had volunteered to help at an event organised by Manchester Stop the War Coalition (STWC) called, “Remember the Children of Gaza.”
The case was taken on by the Islamic Human Rights Commission who represented the victim and broke the story.
Subsequently, an MPACUK campaign urged people to contact the Council and Labour Party about the Islamophobic abuse and received this response yesterday from the Compliance Officer at Labour Party’s HQ:
“Thank you for your recent correspondence. Councillor Hackett has been suspended from the Labour Party whilst investigations into this matter are conducted.”
In a statement MPACUK said this success “was thanks to the hundreds who shared our Action Alert and contacted the Labour Party. It sends out a strong message that Muslims will not tolerate being abused and treated like second-class citizens.
“We highlighted in our campaign that in other cases where someone was abusive or racist, the Labour Party was quick to act but when it came to a Muslim being a victim of abuse, things were delayed for over a year!
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“We pray that this MPACUK campaign success inspires more Muslims to speak out against Islamophobia and demand that we are treated as equal, respected citizens of this country.
Meanwhile, the IHRC said it had been supporting the victim and had been pushing Manchester City Council to take a stronger stance against Councillor Mark Hackett’s Islamophobic attacks.
“We have been pushing for greater accountability, and welcome the decision to suspend him from his position. It is disappointing to know that anyone of this ilk is in a position of authority, but we are pleased that justice has been served,” the IHRC added.
Islamophobic abuse
An internal report on Hackett’s actions by an investigating officer from Manchester City Council has not been published but 5Pillars has seen its contents.
The victim, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, e-mailed councillors at the behest of STWC seeking their support for the event on 17th August 2014.
Cllr Hackett responded by e-mailing the victim from an official Council address, and copying in all other Labour councillors, accusing the victim’s supporters of supporting Hamas and ISIS and suggesting that the councillor’s attendance would invite attacks against his person and family.
The councillor then sent another e-mail in which he suggested that the volunteer had played a “possible role in the abduction of the Salford Taxi Driver in Syria” and also a “possible role as Islamic State sleeper in Salford”.
In yet another e-mail he elaborates on this idea: “You may think I am being over cautious and alarmist but look at the Salford Taxi Driver betrayed to IS and abducted by them by someone (sic) in Salford presumably.”
The victim, who is in his 40s, was so appalled by Cllr Hackett’s reaction that he submitted a formal complaint to the Council asking for an official probe into his conduct.
That investigation lasted almost a year and was concluded in July 2015 with a damning report which found Cllr Hackett had violated the Council’s Code of Conduct for members with his bullying and abusive behaviour.
It further found the Cllr guilty of intimidating the volunteer by reporting him to the police.
Cllr Hackett is a prominent figure in local Manchester politics having served as a Labour councillor for over 25 years. In 2013 he was elected to serve as the city’s Lord Mayor. He is also a proud supporter of Israel, having lived and worked in the country.
Speaking exclusively to the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) which is supporting him, the victim said he has been left psychologically scarred by the experience.
“Since it happened I’ve not been going out as much and I’ve increased security around my house. It does affect you. It also makes you think that when somebody does this to Muslim or non-white person, no one is going to do anything about it.”
Together with IHRC, the victim is seeking a public apology and for Cllr Hackett to publicly retract the allegations made against him as well as for him to face disciplinary proceedings.
IHRC chair Massoud Shadjareh said at the time the original story broke: “It is imperative for the Council now to step up to the plate and take disciplinary proceedings against Cllr Hackett. These findings are very serious and any attempt to brush them under the carpet will naturally invite accusations that the council is colluding in Islamophobia.”
