Category: North Edinburgh News

Edinburgh Castle Seeks Modern Apprentices

Nine school leavers to gain work experience at Scotland’s top paid visitor attraction

Castle

Historic Environment Scotland celebrated Scottish Apprenticeship Week by offering nine school leavers the opportunity to join the team at Edinburgh Castle on a two-year Modern Apprenticeship. Continue reading Edinburgh Castle Seeks Modern Apprentices

Kausar Uddin: a statement from Blackhall Mosque

Edinburgh Blackhall Mosque

Imprisonment of Kausar Uddin in Saudi Arabia

8 March 2016

Kausar Uddin. Picture: Ian Rutherford

After recent press coverage on the imprisonment of Mr Kausar Uddin in Saudi Arabia on the 22nd February 2016 the Blackhall Mosque would wish to state the following:

Mr Uddin who is an attendee at the Blackhall Mosque, Edinburgh, was part of a larger group who travelled to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage of Umrah. After an altercation with the Police on the 22nd February 2016, Mr Uddin was detained and thereafter imprisoned for a period of 35 days in custody.

We have serious reservations about the manner in which the authorities in Saudi Arabia have dealt with the situation and the subsequent detention and imprisonment of Mr Uddin.

Those who were responsible for organising the trip to Mecca were actively involved in trying to resolve matters to the best of their ability whilst in Saudi Arabia but with no avail. Clearly, it will be appreciated that the Criminal Justice System and its implementation is solely a matter for the authorities in Saudi Arabia. Notwithstanding the great efforts made by individuals from the Blackhall Mosque in Edinburgh who were on the trip the authorities decided to prosecute Mr Uddin.

The Blackhall Mosque has been in contact with Mr Uddins family on a daily basis since the incident occurred. Mr Uddin is a family man with young children and our thoughts are with them during this difficult and traumatic period in their lives. We remain to assist and support them throughout this period.

We join Mr Uddins family and appeal directly to the Government and to the Foreign Office to ensure that everything is being done to secure Mr Uddins liberty and safe return to Scotland.

Waqqas Ashraf
Solicitor
waqqaslegal@gmail.com
Statement on behalf of the Blackhall Mosque, Edinburgh

Letter: Crocodile tears over EU exit

euro flags

Dear Editor

Tory politicians and others who the UK to leave the EU are extremely vocal about being able to trade as usual after leaving: they know, of course, how many people depend on this trading for their jobs, so seek to assure them.

If this is so, what other reasons do they have for wanting to leave – and more importantly whose interests are they concerned about?

Their main unspoken objective is to abolish all EU regulations dealing with working and social conditions, health and safety regulations and the environment – all of which have been of great benefit to people working in the UK.

On working conditions, for example:

  • A maximum working week of 48 hours
  • A minimum break of 11 hours rest between working days
  • A minimum break of 24 hours from work in seven days, in addition to the daily 11 hours rest
  • Annual leave entitlement of four weeks minimum
  • Night work of eight hours maximum in 24 hours
  • Equal opportunities for women and men
  • Pregnancy, maternity and parental leave
  • Prohibition of discrimination on sex, race, religion, disability or sexual orientation grounds

So what do they object to – and why?

These regulations can always be improved by the UK Government; the same applies to health and safety and environmental reguations and others that have been of great benefit to the people of the UK.

But this is not their intention, of course – quite the reverse! This is why they want to get out, while shedding tears over how much they care!

A. Delahoy

Silverknowes Gardens