New MEP Magid Magid 'asked to leave' European Parliament building

A newly-elected Green MEP claims he was asked to leave the European Parliament building in Strasbourg on his first day.

Magid Magid, 30, who was wearing a baseball cap and a T-shirt, said someone thought he was lost and therefore should not have been there.

The former Lord Mayor of Sheffield was elected as one of six MEPs for the Yorkshire and Humber region in May.

He said he did not know who the official who asked him to leave was.

He added: "I make people feel uncomfortable, people don't know how to react."

In a tweet, he said: "I know I'm visibly different. I don't have the privilege to hide my identity. I'm BLACK & my name is Magid.

"I don't intend to try fit in. Get used to it!"

He said the exchange said a lot about what people think politicians are supposed to look like and he did not leave the building.

A spokesperson for the European Parliament said they were treating the matter with "utmost seriousness" and were in touch with Mr Magid to find out exactly what took place.

Mr Magid was attending the opening of the new five-year session of the parliament, though the length of the UK's involvement remains in doubt.

UK MEPs may sit in the parliament until the country formally leaves the EU.

Mr Magid came to Sheffield aged five from an Ethiopian refugee camp "to find a better life".

He was elected Broomhill and Sharrow Vale Green councillor in 2016 and became the city's youngest Lord Mayor in 2018.

He went on to cause controversy when, in July 2018, he "banned" visiting US President Donald Trump from Sheffield.

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news.co.uk.

Source: BBC News

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Member of the European Parliament • Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg • Member of the European Parliament • Seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg • Strasbourg • Baseball cap • T-shirt • Sheffield • Member of the European Parliament • Yorkshire and the Humber • Twitter • European Parliament • Parliament of the United Kingdom • United Kingdom • United Kingdom • Member of the European Parliament • Parliament of the United Kingdom • European Union • Sheffield • Refugee camp • Broomhill and Sharrow Vale • Alderman • Lord Mayor • President of the United States • Donald Trump • Sheffield • BBC Yorkshire • Facebook • Twitter • Instagram •