A new report by the British newspaper The Telegraph raises questions regarding Lubna Safiten, a British-Palestinian activist behind a controversial resolution recently approved by the UK Green Party, which defines Zionism as a form of racism. According to the report, Safiten is a close friend of Minh Quang Pham, a terrorist convicted in the US for his involvement in the Al-Qaeda terrorist organization and for planning a mass suicide attack at Heathrow Airport in London.
Court documents from 2015 indicate that Safiten offered to testify in defense of Pham during his legal proceedings, describing him as a quiet individual with cognitive limitations. The request to testify was rejected by the federal judge overseeing the case. According to the Telegraph investigation, Pham planned to use a backpack rigged with toxic metal shrapnel to target passengers, with an emphasis on those arriving from Israel and the United States. Although initially claiming it was a ruse, Pham confessed to his actions following the discovery of significant evidence, including videos documenting him testing explosive devices, and was sentenced to 44 years in prison.
Safiten confirmed to the newspaper that she remains in contact with Pham and maintained that he was targeted by the system. Alongside her activity in the Green Party, Safiten has previously made harsh statements against Zionists, suggesting they should be hunted like the Nazis. The party resolution she spearheaded includes a call for the establishment of a single Palestinian state and the imposition of extensive sanctions on Israel, similar to those imposed on the apartheid regime in South Africa. The move has triggered widespread political controversy in the UK. Various factions within the party, including former senior figures, expressed opposition to the resolution, warning that it could alienate Jewish members and undermine the legitimacy of the Palestinian cause. In response, Safiten claimed that criticism of her positions was intended to demonize her. The Green Party stated that it is reviewing the details arising from the report regarding Safiten's ties to the convicted terrorist.