Tanweer Khan’s pro-Palestine record upheld after lies uncovered

A local authority with a significant South Asian community has ruled that Independent Councillor Noor Jahan Begum violated the Councillor Code of Conduct after making a series of unsubstantiated accusations against Labour Councillor Tanweer Khan, allegedly using the Palestine issue to score political points.

The decision by the Redbridge Council Standards Committee follows a lengthy independent investigation and a formal public hearing.

The panel determined that Councillor Begum not only made claims unsupported by evidence, but also misled the inquiry, altered her statements.

Councillor Khan’s complaint centred on events in April 2025. He alleged that Councillor Begum distributed misleading leaflets in the ward on 10 April, behaved in a stalking manner near the Ilford Islamic Centre on 18 April, and colluded with her niece to escalate the accusations.

The leaflets suggested that Khan, in his role as Chair of the Pension Fund Committee, had refused to support a divestment campaign linked to the Local Government Pension Scheme, implying he was pro-Israel, pro-Zionist, and anti-Palestine. These claims, the Council later found, had no evidential basis.

While Councillor Begum denied distributing the material, investigators concluded she was present in the ward speaking to residents and handing out leaflets. She also accused Khan of misogynistic behaviour—another claim the inquiry found unsupported.

“The ruling shows how false claims can be weaponised to inflict reputational and personal harm. My record on Palestinian rights is clear and public. What my family and I have endured has been deeply distressing, but I am relieved the truth is now recognised.”

He also criticised what he described as political hypocrisy, noting that Begum had urged the Council to divest from companies like Amazon, while financial records show her by-election campaign received support from Capumen—a recruitment firm that lists Amazon as a major client.

In her response, Councillor Noor Jahan Begum rejected the findings:

“The Council failed to follow due process. They did not investigate my complaint against Mr Khan properly and have publicly censured me for submitting what they claim was a retaliatory complaint. I strongly disagree and will be approaching the Local Government Ombudsman.”