The former Lord Mayor of Manchester bullied an anti-war Muslim protester and repeatedly claimed he could be a terrorist, an investigation found.
Cllr Mike Hackett was found to have been "abusive, disrespectful, bullying and defamatory" in emails to a man he did not know, copying in all the Manchester city councillors.
The unnamed Muslim man invited Hackett to speak at a Stop the War Coalition event during the Gaza protests in Manchester city centre. Hackett did not attend the event but subsequently attacked the man in a series of emails.
He informed the police that the man had a "possible role in the abduction of a Salford taxi driver in Syria" and suggested he might be involved in an ISIS sleeper cell in Salford.
Hackett later admitted his allegations were "not based on any factual evidence."
"Since it happened I've not been going out as much and I've increased security around my house," the man said anonymously.
"It does affect you. It also makes you think that when somebody does this to a Muslim or non-white person, no one is going to do anything about it."
Cllr Hackett is now on long-term sick leave and withdrew all the allegations, according to Labour group secretary Cllr Pat Karney.
"He apologises for any distress he may have caused."
