Yesterday I attended the Muslim Council of Scotland’s rally outside the Scottish Parliament, to call for an end to Islamophobia (writes FOYSUL CHOUDHURY MSP).
While freedom of expression must be protected, this should not be exercised in a way that incites hatred or acts of violence against others. It is unacceptable that anybody should be a victim of discrimination, prejudice or abuse based upon a protected characteristic.
I felt it important to attend the rally to firmly show that I believe we should actively oppose, and try to prevent, this kind of hate crime. Minority communities should be confident about reporting incidents of hate and abuse to the authorities and be assured of the support they deserve.
I believe that this starts with authorities and communities openly acknowledging the existence of hate crime and being dedicated to prevent and punish such crimes.
I hope to continue raising awareness of this important issue in Parliament throughout my time in office and I encourage the Scottish Government to bring forward its new hate crimes strategy as a matter of urgency.
The Scottish Government also needs to speak out against injustices that we witness against minority communities around the world. Similarly, acknowledgement of the lived experiences of minority communities and the effects of hate upon them should be taught and prioritised within the school curriculum and institutions such as Police Scotland.
I hope that diverse communities can come together to call out hate speech and hate crimes against their fellow citizens, supporting one another so that our ever-interconnected world can flourish through respect, tolerance and togetherness.
If you witness a hate crime, whether in-person or online, please report this to Police Scotland or a third-party reporting centre.
Stand against hate, both in Scotland and around the world.
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