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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Ruth Mosalski

Woman suspended from Plaid Cymru over anti-Semitic tweets now wants to be one of their AMs

A woman who was only allowed to rejoin Plaid Cymru a matter of days ago has announced she now wants to be an Assembly Member for the party.

Sahar Al-Faifi, from Cardiff, was suspended as a member of the party over anti-Semitic tweets which she sent in 2014.

They came to light after she appeared in a General Election broadcast for the party.

Her membership was reinstated in January.

Ms Al-Faifi said: "Evidence in response to anti-Semitism allegations against me was submitted to a panel.

"The panel decided on January, 2020, there was no need for sanctions and my Plaid Cymru membership was reinstated in full.

"I am more committed than ever before to creating a more just, inclusive and welcoming Wales."

The results in Wales in the 2019 General Election:

She has now announced she is running for a place on the regional list for South Wales Central and has the support of former leader, Leanne Wood.

The Assembly elections are due in May, 2021, and people can stand for either a constituency or regional place.

In a video plugging her campaign, Ms Al-Faifi said: "This was the toughest year of my life. The far right abuse, the smear campaigns, the death threats, the racism, the hate - it was enough to put me to tears so many nights. Why do these people hate me for being me? Can you not be a Muslim woman of colour and also be confident in your identity?

"Everyone makes a choice at some point in their lives. I choose to be confident in who I am and in my identity. I choose to rise up against those who hate, and spread love and hope.  I choose to work tirelessly until I see a better world, a world that we can all be proud of creating together."

She added: "Well, it seems the far-right messed with the wrong person. Their attacks have proved something to me. If these are the people who are looking to spread hate, then I am going to do everything I can to be the opposite. So thank you, for motivating me towards working for a much stronger, more just and more inclusive Wales.

"It is at the time of despair and hopelessness, hope is born."

At the time of her suspension she said: “Several years ago I made a handful of social media posts that I regret deeply as they crossed the boundary of criticism of Israel into anti-Semitism.

“I deleted the tweets more than five years ago, and issued an apology to Jewish organisations and others.

“I have also undertaken anti-Semitism training, both formally through the Board of Deputies and informally with Jewish colleagues in order to ensure I never repeat the same mistakes."

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