A Green Party councillor expressed his support for Iran's assassinated Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Daily Express can reveal. Imtiaz Ali, who sits on Peterborough City Council and serves as boss of the local Green Party, liked and commented on Facebook posts showing support for the former Iranian Supreme Leader.

One post the Left-wing councillor liked claimed Khamenei "gave his life" for Islam. Mr Ali himself commented, calling for "Muslims around the world" to stand in solidarity with people "suffering from the Epstein class of evil rulers". Khamenei, who was taken out in US airstrikes on Tehran this month, was widely condemned as a tyrannical ruler who was accused of murdering thousands of his own citizens.

Mr Ali added that attacks on Iran were "the same for us Muslims as the attacks on Palestine".

But critics have blasted what they said is "yet more evidence of the growth in sectarian politics" in Britain.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp savaged the comments, demanding: "The Green Party should expel this man for expressing support for Khamenei – a leader who recently murdered 30,000 of his own citizens, sponsored terrorism and fuelled regional wars in which tens of thousands have died.

"The reference to a supposed 'Epstein class of evil rulers' is clearly antisemitic. If the Greens had a shred of decency, they would expel Ali immediately."

Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam said: "These comments by Green Party councillor Imtiaz Ali are utterly reprehensible.

"Ayatollah Khamenei was responsible for brutal repression at home and the export of terrorism abroad. Public support for a man like that, from a sitting councillor, is yet more evidence of the growth in sectarian politics in our country."

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Ms Lam warned: "Anything short of an immediate suspension by the Greens represents an endorsement of this kind of politics."

The scandal comes as concerns around sectarian politics rise, with election experts warning of a "substantial threat" from alliances between the Greens, Workers Party and Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party.

Khamenei was accused of orchestrating brutal repression against protesters in Iran, with thousands killed in crackdowns on dissent against his regime.

He oversaw Iran's support for Hamas, Hezbollah and other terror groups across the Middle East, fuelling regional conflicts that have killed tens of thousands.

The Green Party and Mr Ali have been approached for comment.