Warning: The Greens Are Being Taken Over by Islamists

The British local elections are approaching, and Labour risks significant losses to Nigel Farage and Reform UK, but also to a completely different opponent—Zack Polanski and his Green Party. At the same time, the former deputy leader of the Green Party is warning that the Greens are being taken over by Islamists.

Dr. Shahrar Ali was the deputy leader of the Green Party from 2014 to 2016. Last year, Zack Polanski took over the leadership, which led to a sharp increase in membership—from 68,000 to 215,000. In the wake of this, Ali is now accusing his former colleagues of being infiltrated by Islamists.

He refers to a motion from a spring conference on Zionism and leader figures chanting “from the river to the sea” as evidence of a shift away from the party’s official policy of supporting a two-state solution. He also connects it to broader controversies within the party, such as comments about Israel, and claims these reflect a cultural change he opposes.

– I want to return to the party because they are a real danger to society. What has happened now is this unholy alliance between Islamists and gender ideologists. The best thing the Green Party can do right now is to tell all Islamists in the party: go and form your own party, he says.

Ali’s criticism comes against the backdrop of his legal battles with the party, which started after he was removed as spokesperson in 2022 due to gender-critical views. In 2024, a court ruled that the party had illegally discriminated against him and awarded damages and legal costs. His exclusion later the same year led to a new lawsuit under the Equality Act.

More Controversies

At the same time, the party is under pressure to remove candidate Aziz Rahman Hakimi, a candidate for London city council, after he, among other things, claimed that Zionists were behind 9/11. The party is also reviewing Croydon candidate Mark Adderley, who compared Israel to Nazi Germany and accused the country of attacks against Jews.

Zack Polanski, born in 1982 in Salford, began his career as an actor and hypnotherapist before entering politics. He was first active in the Liberal Democrats but switched to the Green Party in 2017. As party leader, he profiles himself with an “eco-populist” approach and wants to broaden the party’s focus from climate issues to wider left-oriented social issues. He has previously been deputy party leader (2022–2025) and is known for an occasionally confrontational style that has received significant attention in the British media.