The Chase star Anne Hegerty has demanded the Green Party implement new rules for its Muslim members after leader Zack Polanski was banned from entering Israel. The Green leader did not take part in a vote his party took to define Zionism as racist, with the state accusing the party of “legitimising the destruction of the State of Israel” with “clear antisemitic text”.
Green Party votes to define Zionism as racism
Green Party members backed the motion to declare that Zionism is racism, with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against. The motion declares the Greens an “anti-Zionist party” and states that it will be “treated as any other form of racism”. Zionism is a movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel, which supports the rights of Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland.
Anne Hegerty responds to controversy
Now Anne has had her say on the controversy, after MP Carla Denyer clarified: “To Jewish members of the party: The motion proposers made clear in the debate that they have no intention for Jewish members to feel targeted for their beliefs or associations.
“If anyone does try to use it in this way, I will be there for you with my solidarity and support.”
Anne then replied to her tweet on X to say: “Tell you what. Get your Muslim members to promise they will never attend a mosque that criticises homosexuality. Then we’ll talk.”
She quickly faced backlash from fans, however, as one fumed: “You should be off The Chase for that!”
Anne defends her comments
Anne calmly responded: “I’ve asked what would happen if a political party required Muslims to abandon a tenet of their faith as central to them as Israel is to Judaism (‘next year in Jerusalem’). What do you think would happen? And why do you think this shouldn’t be asked?”
Another said: “Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (1860) which criminalised ‘carnal intercourse against the order of nature’ and served as the blueprint of anti-sodomy laws throughout British-controlled parts of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.”
Anne replied: “Right, so hanging gays from cranes in Iran – a country we never ran – was learned from us. Okay.”
Others quickly rushed to support Anne, calling her a “patriot”, as someone else said: “Good for her!”
