TWO East Lancashire Labour councillors have been suspended by the party as its steps up its crackdown on anti-Semitism.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Salim Mulla, a former borough mayor, and Burnley’s Shah Hussain are now under investigation over alleged comments made on social media.

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Cllr Hussain has represented Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward since 2007, and is a former executive member for economy and regeneration.

Cllr Mulla is councillor for Queen’s Park and ex-chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

The two suspensions follow similar action against former London mayor Ken Livingstone for suggesting Hitler was a Zionist and Labour MP Naz Shaq for suggesting on Facebook that Israel should be moved to America.

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn Labour agent and borough regeneration boss, said: “Salim has been suspended by the party over some posts he is alleged to have made on Facebook. They allegedly concern some extremely stupid remarks which seem to suggest that Israel is behind the rise of IS.”

Cllr Mulla’s 2015 Facebook posts also allegedly suggest moving Israel to the USA would be "the world solution of the conflict in the Middle East".

Cllr Hussain has been suspended over alleged 2014 comments on Twitter which could be considered to be anti-Semitic.

A Labour spokesman said: “Councillors Salim Mulla and Shah Hussain have been suspended by the Labour Party pending further investigation.”

Cllr Mike Lee, Blackburn with Darwen Tory group leader, said: “I find it absolutely disgusting that an elected Labour borough councillor could make these comments."

Cllr Hussain said: “I am not anti-Semitic.

“I was responding to a tweet from Joey Barton about events in Gaza in 2014, when there was a conflict going on, and to responses to that tweet.

“I was talking specifically about the actions of the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza and not making a general statement.”

Cllr Mulla was unavailable for comment.

TWO East Lancashire Labour councillors have been suspended by the party as its steps up its crackdown on anti-Semitism.

Blackburn with Darwen’s Salim Mulla, a former borough Mayor, and Burnley’s Shah Hussain are now under investigation over alleged comments made on social media.

Cllr Hussain has represented Daneshouse with Stoneyholme ward since 2007, and is a former executive member for economy and regeneration.

Cllr Mulla is the councillor for Queen’s Park ward and a former chairman of the Lancashire Council of Mosques.

The two suspensions follow similar action against London May Ken Livingstone for suggesting Hitler was a Zionist and Labour MP Naz Shaq for suggesting on Facebook that Israel should be moved to America.

Blackburn Labour agent and borough regeneration boss, Cllr Phil Riley, said: “Salim has been suspended by the party over some posts he is alleged to have made on Facebook.

“They allegedly concern some extremely stupid remarks which seem to suggest that Israel is behind the rise of ISIS.”

Cllr Mulla’s 2015 Facebook posts also allegedly suggest moving Israel to the USA would be ‘the world solution of the conflict in the Middle East’.

Cllr Hussain has been suspended over alleged 2014 comments on Twitter which could be considered to be anti-Semitic.

A Labour spokesman said: “Councillors Salim Mulla and Shah Hussain have been suspended by the Labour Party pending further investigation.”

Blackburn with Darwen Tory Group leader, Cllr Mike Lee, said: “I find it absolutely disgusting that an elected Labour borough councillor could make these comments.

“I hope Blackburn Labour party will expel Cllr Mulla promptly and he will resign from the council.”

Cllr Hussain said: “I would like to make it clear I am not anti-Semitic.

“I was responding to a tweet from Joey Barton about events in Gaza in 2014, when there was a conflict going on and to responses to that tweet.

“I was talking specifically about the actions of the Israeli government under Benjamin Netanyahu in Gaza and not making a general statement.”

Burnley council leader, Cllr Mark Townsend, said: “I referred Cllr Shah’s comments to the national Labour Party.

“It has suspended him and that was the right decision. I am pleased the party acted so swiftly.”

Cllr Mulla was unavailable for comment.

Labour also suspended a third councillor Nottingham city’s Ilyas Aziz, yesterday for allegedly anti-Semitic comments on social media.