Council leader: Palestine flag ‘not antisemitic’, as meeting disrupted

After a weekly pro-Palestine protest on King Street roundabout, some protesters decided to sit in the public gallery of the full council meeting on Wednesday, December 13, with Palestinian flags.

About an hour into the meeting, following a question about dog attacks from local Conservative leader Cllr Graham Sheldon, a member of the public, identified as Peter Brown, exclaimed: “Please can we have this flag removed?”, adding that he found the flag ‘offensive.’

Mayor Cllr Zahid Chauhan OBE, who was chairing the meeting, responded: “Please can I continue with the meeting? I’ve been advised that it’s not illegal to have the flag, I cannot stop someone.”

Mr Brown continued his remarks and implied the flag could be seen as antisemitic.

Council leader Arooj Shah then stepped in, adding: “Mr Mayor, the Palestinian flag is not antisemitic.”

The mayor then said: “Please, we need to continue with the meeting. If it was illegal, I would have removed. Thank you.”

Sign up to our newsletters to get the latest stories sent straight to your inbox.

The mayor then went to Failsworth Independent councillor Brian Hobin for a question.

Cllr Hobin said: “Thank you Mr Mayor, while it’s not illegal, I do think it’s inappropriate in this chamber to have one flag up”, adding that he found it ‘disgraceful’.

Mayor Chauhan then asked Cllr Hobin if he would like to withdraw his words. Cllr Hobin said: “I will retract it, but I don’t think it’s right.”

Following further outbursts from the public gallery, the mayor added: “It’s not disgraceful sir, it’s not illegal.”

Another 35 minutes later, a pro-Palestine protester, wearing a Palestine flag over his shoulders, walked over to sit next to Mr Brown, and could be seen shaking his hand.

The meeting was disrupted again after a pro-Palestine protester approached Mr Brown (Image: Screenshot from Oldham Council recording)

Mr Brown then appears to begin to speak with him, but the protester puts his finger up to his mouth in a ‘shushing’ motion, before pointing to Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, who was making a speech at the time.

Mr Brown then exclaims to the chamber, complaining about ‘intimidation in this council chamber’, and the protester is moved away by security guards.

The mayor then steps in, adding: “Mr Brown, please may I request you, I saw what happened there, the gentleman has been moved to the side, please accept my apologies, please let me carry on with the meeting, please.”

Mr Brown responds: “You’ve allowed the flag.”

In response, the mayor says: “I cannot stop something which is legal, if you bring an Israeli flag I would not stop you either.”

After further interruptions from Mr Brown 20 minutes later, the mayor asks him to leave three times in quick succession.

The meeting was then adjourned, before being reconvened 30 minutes later in a committee room.

Follow The Oldham Times on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads.

A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: “We welcome and encourage residents’ attendance at public meetings.

“Input from and involvement of the public is fundamental to the democratic process, though this must be conducted appropriately to ensure that meetings are run in a safe, fair, transparent, and effective manner.

“We have a commitment to host all council meetings in an environment that is welcoming, secure and safe for all attendees.

"Everyone present at meetings should be treated with courtesy and respect; and behaviours, language or actions that impact public safety and cause disruption or delays to meetings are not acceptable.

“Unfortunately, a member of the public did become disruptive in the council chamber during the last full council meeting, which forced it to be adjourned. The meeting was relocated which enabled it to continue.”

If you have a story, I cover the whole borough of Oldham. Please get in touch at jack.fifield@newsquest.co.uk or click to send me a message on WhatsApp or on Signal on 07517566383.