Momentum group pulls invite to ‘Zionists behind 9/11’ vicar for Gaza fundraiser

Rev. Stephen Sizer, who has been accused of 'repeatedly posting antisemitic slurs' online in the past, was due to speak at a charity dinner hosted by Ilford Momentum

Reverend Stephen Sizer

A disgraced vicar who posted an article saying “Jews and Zionists” were behind 9/11 will no longer speak at a Gaza fundraising dinner in London next month, after the left-wing grassroots group behind it withdrew the invitation.

Rev. Stephen Sizer was due to speak at the Star of India restaurant in Leytonstone on 3 October, for a charity dinner hosted by Ilford Momentum.

However, a spokesman for Ilford Momentum apologised on Thursday, saying the organisers had not known about Sizer’s past comments, which have been described by the Bishop of Guildford as “appalling” and “antisemitic”.

The Board of Deputies has previously hit out at Sizer for “repeatedly posting antisemitic slurs” online, and for the Church of England for not sacking him.

In 2015, Sizer was banned from “writing, preaching, teaching, emailing, tweeting, posting on Facebook or commenting in any way in relation to the current situation in the Middle East” after posted a link to an article titled ‘9-11/Israel Did It.’

In 2014 he attended a gathering of antisemites in Iran for a conference with seminars such as “Mossad’s Role in the 9/11 Coup d’Etat” and “Zionist fingerprints on the 9/11 cover-up”.

An Ilford Momentum spokesman said: “We weren’t aware of Stephen Sizer’s past comments. After having been made aware of them we have rescinded his invitation. We oppose antisemitism in all its forms and we apologise for any offence caused. The meeting has been cancelled.”

The event’s advertising had featured the logo of UK-based charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, but the charity is understood to have had nothing to do with the event or its organisation.

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