LONDON: A British Muslim Labour candidate who was blocked from standing in the July general election has quit after saying there is a 鈥渉ierarchy of racism鈥� in the party.

Faiza Shaheen was expected to contest the Chingford and Woodford Green seat, but said she had been penalized for speaking out against Islamophobia within the opposition party, The Independent reported on Tuesday.

She was told last week of her suspension after liking posts on social media that criticized Israel鈥檚 war in Gaza.

When the Labour National Executive Committee formalized the decision on Tuesday, Shaheen resigned from the party, opening a path to challenge, as an independent, her replacement Shama Tatler, a member of the Jewish Labour Movement.

Tatler was described by Shaheen as 鈥渟omeone not known or supported by most local members with no links to our community.鈥�

Shaheen, an economist who specializes in inequality, described her blocking as a 鈥渟ham process鈥� based on 鈥渟purious reasons,鈥� adding that she had suffered 鈥渦nfair treatment, bullying and hostility鈥� within Labour ranks.

鈥淏eing removed as a candidate has been cruel and devastating, especially after local voters and party members have placed so much faith in me,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 cannot, in all conscience, continue to contribute to a party that seems to think so little of people like me and has moved so far away from my values.鈥�

Labour has been accused of carrying out a 鈥減urge鈥� against left-wing members of the party ahead of the July 4 election.

Momentum, a left-wing Labour pressure group, said the party, after 鈥減urging鈥� Shaheen, has decided to 鈥減arachute in one of their own clique from outside the constituency.鈥�

Shaheen said: 鈥淪ince the Conservatives won power in 2010, I have used all the tools available to me 鈥� from my research to my activism 鈥� to fight them on public spending cuts, inequality and divisive narratives.

鈥淭hat is why to leave the Labour Party now, on the cusp of finally seeing the Tories out of government and a time when I should be celebrating, is crushing.鈥�