The former Mayor of Brent who was exposed by the JC for posting an antisemitic video on a Mutual Aid WhatsApp group has said he is "seeking to undertake training" for sharing material that was "racist and unacceptable".
Labour councillor Aslam Choudry said he was "deeply sorry" for any offence he had caused – but he continued to insist he had posted the video by "mistake".
He sparked fury after posting the clip of a discussion that took place on the Real Face television channel on a local Covid-19 support group last week.
The vice chair of Brent Council’s audit and standards advisory committee was suspended by Labour after the party received complaints about his action.
Speaking to his local Brent & Kilburn Times newspaper, Mr Choudry said the incident was “an accident” but he is “seeking to undertake training on antisemitism” after the JC revealed what he had done.
He added: "As you may have seen reported in the media, I recently shared an antisemitic video in a WhatsApp group.
"This video promotes appalling antisemitic tropes falsely claiming that Jewish people control America. This is not only untrue, it is racist and unacceptable.
“I am so deeply sorry for sharing this link. I shared the link by accident and when colleagues pointed out that it was an extremely offensive video, I deleted it and apologised.
"I am so sorry for the hurt and offence I have caused and I will be seeking to undertake training on antisemitism.”
The video he circulated showed a male presenter speak of "an easy way to know if you are controlled" before adding: "Is there something or someone you are not allowed to criticise? It's as simple as that."
The presenter then suggests that "if you lived in Nazi Germany you couldn't criticise the Nazi Party," before saying the same situation exists in China today, and also in the Soviet Union under Communism or in North Korea or Cuba.
Then the presenter says: "If you live in America who can't you criticise?" Another presenter then answers: "The Jewish lobby." The main presenter responds by saying: "Yes."
He then adds: "That tells you who controls the country. We are breaking the taboo. You are not allowed to discuss the power of the Israeli lobby in America. It's proof right there, that's who is controlling free speech in this country."
After it was posted, one member of the WhatsApp group in Dudden Hill wrote: “There is no place for a person like that in this group. I no longer want to be associated with this group if he remains in it. Can he please be removed.”
Then another added: “The views expressed in the video (which I have had the unpleasant experience of viewing) are repulsive in the extreme.
“I’m shocked and appalled to find yet more labour antisemitism. I really thought our local councillors were better than that.”
Cllr Choudry then left the group claiming he posted the video by mistake.
In 2016 a post appeared on Cllr Choudry’s Facebook page that carried the caption “Zionists are even worse than animals”.
He again claimed to have posted it by mistake.
The Labour Party this week confirmed they have suspended Cllr Choudry.
A spokesperson said: “The Labour Party takes all complaints of antisemitism extremely seriously and they are fully investigated in line with our rules and procedures and any appropriate action is taken. We cannot comment on individual complaints.”