(European Conservative) A Lebanese-born MP with links to Hamas and belonging to the left-leaning Social Democrats has caused waves in Swedish politics this week by announcing his resignation from the party. The decision comes in the wake of a rumbling scandal over his participation in a conference hosted by a known Hamas donor. He also faces accusations of attempting to influence an asylum court case involving an Egyptian imam.
Jamal El-Haj, an MP for the Malmö region, will now sit as an independent in the Swedish Parliament, the Riksdag, after publicly resigning from the Social Democrats on Monday citing a lack of trust expressed in him by the party leadership.
A vocal antisemite born to parents of Palestinian heritage, El-Haj has represented the centre-left party in parliament since 2018, including serving on the foreign relations committee.
