Malaysia Sun, Malaysia
April 8 2006

Race troubles British political party
Big News Network
Saturday 8th April, 2006 (UPI)

The British National Party faces a revolt over selecting the grandson
of an asylum-seeker to stand for a Bradford ward in next month’s
local elections.

BNP hard-liners are refusing to accept the candidacy of Sharif Abdel
Gawad on racial grounds, even though officials said he is a totally
assimilated Greek-Armenian whose grandfather was a Christian, the
Guardian newspaper reported Saturday.

Scores of party contributors have denounced Mr. Gawad’s selection on
online notice boards. They contend the BNP should remain an all-white
party and the decision to appoint Gawad was made over the heads of
rank and file members.

A BNP spokesman said those members who refused to accept Gawad have
no place in the party.

In 2004 party leader Nick Griffin tired to force through a rules
change allowing non-white people to join the BNP. After widespread
opposition from members, leaders were forced to abandon the effort.