An Independent Councillor from Belfast, who criticised Islam, could face up to a five-year ban from standing in future elections.
Jolene Bunting is an independent councillor from Belfast. She has been suspended, censored and is to potentially be banned from standing in future elections for up to 5 years.
Jolene has been labelled ‘far right’ and a ‘racist’ and in a few weeks could potentially be banned from standing in future elections for standing up for her deeply Conservative – Christian beliefs.
This shocking string of events starts back in August 2018, when Jolene was suspended from council duties for four months while investigations were carried out into complaints about public statements she made about Islam.
She also received a backlash for her support of leaflets which warned of the dangers of Islam, which Jolene did not have any involvement in the printing or distribution, but defended the right of whoever printed the leaflets during a Belfast City Council meeting in April 2018 stating:
“It’s up to the leaders in this city to address people’s concerns and not just label them as racist or fascist. Fascists are the people who don’t want anyone to speak out about Islam.”
In November of the same year the High Court appeal started which paused the suspension.
In March 2019, the High Court stated that Jolene should serve the rest of her suspension.
The following month her shocking suspension continued. In May 2019, the local elections happened in which Jolene lost her seat. Jolene stated “I believe this was due to the constant negative publicity I received from the local media during my election campaign, along with having all my social media accounts take down 2 weeks into my re-election campaign.”
“These are dark times for democracy”
Jolene has been hounded by the media throughout this ordeal, they have labelled her ‘racist’, ‘far right’ and have continually tried to discredit Jolene’s name.
Her crime… criticising Islam.
Jolene publicly criticized Islam during an Anti-Terror Rally, held in Belfast, 2017 and since then she has been harassed and hounded by many people including fellow councillors.
Jolene lost her appeal in March 2019 and had to serve the remainder of her suspension which inevitably damaged her chances of having a successful campaign in the upcoming local elections. Jolene believes she lost the elections due to the ‘witch hunt’ against her.
Jolene has not even been questioned by the police yet these unelected officials can potentially ban her from standing in election. This isn’t democracy.
She is the first councillor in the U.K. to be suspended while the outcome of an investigation is pending.
Last week Jolene received a letter from the Local Government Commissioner for Standards inviting her to a hearing review meeting later this month, the commissioner will make their decision on her case in a matter of weeks.
As she is no longer an elected councillor, they can’t suspend, this leaves them two options. Drop the case or ban her from standing in election for office, for 5 years.
Jolene said “I don’t think there is much doubt as to what the outcome of this ‘witch-hunt’ will be… The complaints lodged with the Commissioner against me were made by a cable of Far-Left activists, Socialists and Irish-Republicans.”
This whole situation has had a significant effect on Jolene’s life, she has struggled to find employment since and I asked her why? Her reply was “The first thing an employer sees if they search online for my name is that I was suspended from office and articles implying that I am racist.”
Jolene has had to move house, since receiving death threats and having far left activists expose where her family home is located, by posting pictures online.
None of which is true of course, Jolene has simply expressed her views on Islam. A large number of people have supported Jolene from the beginning of this attack on free speech.
“I feel so lucky to have such great support.”
A handful of Unionist Politician’s have contacted Jolene on a personal level and have said that they support her right to express her views, unfortunately none of them would publicly support Jolene, for fear of being tarred as ‘racists’ themselves.
Local elections will be held again next year and if Jolene doesn’t receive a 5-year ban, she intends to stand again.
She is being targeted because she stood independently and didn’t have a party for support. Jolene said that “Conservative/Christian views are under attack and this is a national shame.”
Regardless of whether you agree with Jolene’s views or not is irrelevant, her right to freedom of speech and expression must be defended. Elected candidates should be able to speak out freely without being hounded and harassed by the establishment and mainstream media.
Jolene Bunting was first elected to Belfast City Council in 2014. She has had a huge amount of success and has an awful lot of support from the local community. Jolene expressed that “Ultimately I must do what is best for my children and that means doing what is right for my country.”
Jolene is on Gab, Telegram, VK & Twitter if you wanted to follow her story.
Here’s how you can also support Jolene’s fight.
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