Sheffield Reform leader says "no one surprised" by "vile" social media posts from Green Party councillor
“One of the most surprising things about councillor Ahmed’s antisemitic comments is that no one is surprised”
Reform’s leadership in Sheffield says that “no one is surprised” a local Green councillor has sent out allegedly antisemitic social media posts after the national party sent a “racist signal” with its controversial ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion.
Burngreave ward councillor Mustafa Ahmed is facing pressure to resign after the Jewish Chronicle uncovered inflammatory social media post of his in the days after the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel.
The councillor, who was elected in May this year, allegedly wrote that those who do not support a war in Gaza will “bear the shame of supporting the Jews”.
The Chronicle also claimed that during Iran strikes on Israel in June 2025, Coun Ahmed shared a video to TikTok showing Tel Aviv in flames, accompanied by a song containing a prayer against Jews.
Coun Ahmed has said that he "rejected" the article, saying: "I stand firmly against antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of racism.
“Justice for Palestinians and the safety and dignity of Jewish people are not competing causes. I will always stand for both."
In response, Sheffield Reform councillors’ group leader’ John Hesketh’ has described Coun Ahmed’s posts as “vile”.
“One of the most surprising things about Coun Ahmed’s antisemitic comments is that no one is surprised,” the Stocksbridge and Upper Don councillor added.
“The Green Party sent a racist signal to all its members when its annual conference on October 4 it passed a controversial ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion.”
The Green’s motion on Zionism has already caused chaos in Sheffield, threatening to pull apart the Labour and Green leadership arrangement in the town hall.
At a full council meeting on Wednesday, November 4, council leader Fran Belbin said that the two parties had hosted discussions and were in a place to potentially salvage their alliance.
However, Reform have suggested that this latest revelation about Coun Ahmed has reignited the debate.
“Labour in Sheffield is still in a working relationship of sorts with the Green Party at the town hall, despite claims by Labour leader Fran Belbin that ties had been cut,” Coun Hesketh added.
“Coun Ahmed’s vile words surely mean Labour must cut all ties with the Green Party at Sheffield City Council.”