March 14, 2013

(JTA) — A British lawmaker has blamed a Jewish conspiracy for his conviction in connection with a fatal car crash.

Lord Nazir Ahmed of the Labor party claimed that his legal problems following the 2007 crash resulted from pressure placed on the courts by Jews “who own newspapers and TV channels,” The Times reported on Thursday. The Labor party has suspended Ahmed pending an investigation, British media reported.

Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan, made the statements during a television interview in Pakistan last year, according to The Times, a daily newspaper based in London. Ahmed was quoted as denying he ever gave the interview. The Times said it has sent his lawyer a copy of the transcript.

In March 2009, a court of appeals freed Ahmed from a 12-week prison sentence handed down by Justice Alan Wilkie following Ahmed’s conviction for dangerous driving on Christmas day of 2007. Ahmed’s vehicle was involved in an accident which claimed the life of 28-year-old Martyn Gombar. Gombar, who reportedly was drunk, died in a collision with Ahmed’s car, The Times reported. Ahmed pleaded guilty to dangerous driving at Sheffield Magistrates’ Court in December 2008.

According to the Times, Ahmed alleged that Wilkie was appointed to the High Court after helping a “Jewish colleague” of Tony Blair.

Ahmed also allegedly maintained that the plot to stemmed from Jewish disapproval of his support for the Palestinians in Gaza. “My case became more critical because I went to Gaza to support Palestinians. My Jewish friends who own newspapers and TV channels opposed this,” he allegedly said in the interview.

The CST, British Jewry’s security unit and watchdog on anti-Semitism, condemned the statements attributed to Ahmed. “If accurately reported, Lord Ahmed’s allegations about Jews controlling British politicians, judiciary and media, will be the most blatantly anti-Semitic remarks by such a public figure for many years,” CST said in a statement.

A spokesman for the Labor Party said that they would launch an investigation into Ahmed’s comments.

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