Tag: Foysol Choudhury MBE

Former MSP calls for urgent action on racism after alleged Glasgow attack

Foysol Choudhury MBE, former member of the Scottish Parliament, has called for urgent action to tackle racism and hate crime following the alleged racially motivated assault of Bangladeshi man Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow:

I am extremely concerned and deeply saddened by the alleged racist assault on Iftekhar Ul-Islam in Glasgow on 16 September.

I have spoken personally with Iftekhar and his wife. He has sustained injuries to his head and face, he has been left traumatised by the event, and now is too frightened to leave his home.

Nobody should have to feel unsafe travelling to work or walking through our streets because of the colour of their skin or their ethnic background.

I am attaching the joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network, representing organisations from across Scotland. The statement calls for justice and accountability and urges Police Scotland to conduct a full, thorough and timely investigation.

According to the statement, Iftekhar was approached in Glasgow city centre, near the bus station, before being attacked in broad daylight. It states that racist language was used during the alleged assault and that his calls for help went unanswered.

This is extremely serious, and I am deeply worried that things are going from bad to worse.

As a former MSP, I am particularly concerned about the wider spread of racism and racial hostility in our communities. Political rhetoric matters. When politicians use divisive issues or language for political advantage, we need to consider the impact this can have on minority communities and the atmosphere in which people live.

I am not suggesting that political statements directly cause individual crimes. Those responsible for criminal acts must be held individually responsible. However, we must also recognise that public discourse can influence how communities feel about one another.

We cannot allow racism to become normalised.

I raised these issues repeatedly in Parliament

During my five years in the Scottish Parliament, I repeatedly raised racism, Islamophobia, anti-racist education and the need for stronger action.

In October 2023, I asked the Scottish Government how it intended to implement Scotland’s anti-racist curriculum principles. (Scottish Parliament)

In June 2025, I raised the issue of racism and racist bullying in schools, including concerns about whether anti-racist policies and toolkits were actually being implemented and whether racist incidents were properly recorded and followed up. (Scottish Parliament)

In March 2025, I questioned the First Minister about the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents and asked about progress in implementing recommendations from work on Islamophobia in Scotland. The First Minister acknowledged that the rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents was a serious concern. (Scottish Parliament)

I also raised the importance of education about racism and colonialism, including the role museums can play in helping young people understand these issues. (Scottish Parliament)

I have consistently argued that education must be part of the solution. Unfortunately, I do not believe anti-racist education has always been taken as seriously as it should have been.

What needs to happen now?

We need action, not simply statements.

There must be a thorough investigation into what happened to Iftekhar. Victims of racist attacks must receive appropriate support, and racist incidents must be properly recorded and followed up.

We also need to ask whether enough is being done to prevent racism before it becomes violence.

Are schools receiving the resources and support needed to tackle racism effectively?

Are racist incidents being properly recorded and acted upon?

Are politicians and public figures doing enough to challenge racism rather than allowing division to grow?

And are we doing enough to educate young people about racism, prejudice and the contribution of Scotland’s diverse communities?

The Bangladeshi community is an important part of Scotland. During my time in Parliament, I established and convened the Cross-Party Group on Bangladesh to strengthen Scotland-Bangladesh relations and provide a forum for Scotland’s Bangladeshi community. (Scottish Parliament)

I have always believed that Scotland should be a country where everyone can live, work and raise their families without fear because of their race, ethnicity or faith.

Racism is not somebody else’s problem. It is a problem for all of us.

I stand with Iftekhar, his family and the Scottish Bangladeshi community in calling for justice, accountability and urgent action.

Something has to be done now. We cannot wait for another victim.

Joint statement from the Scottish Bangladeshi Organisations Network:

Letter: Racism Has No Place in Our NHS or Anywhere in Our Society

The NHS is one of Britain’s greatest achievements (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MBE). Every day, it cares for millions of people regardless of who they are, where they come from or what they believe. It is built on the principles of compassion, dignity and equality.

Yet new research has once again exposed an uncomfortable truth. Too many NHS staff continue to experience unacceptable levels of racism and discrimination.

That should concern every one of us.

The NHS depends on the dedication and professionalism of staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. They are our doctors, nurses, consultants, pharmacists, porters, receptionists, cleaners, ambulance crews and carers. They work around the clock, often under immense pressure, caring for patients with compassion and professionalism.

Quite simply, without them, our NHS would not function.

Yet many continue to face racist abuse from patients, discrimination from colleagues and barriers to career progression. No one should ever have to endure abuse because of the colour of their skin, their ethnicity, their faith or their background while simply doing the job they were trained to do.

The recent findings reported by Sky News should serve as a wake-up call. Racism in our public services is not just unacceptable. It damages lives, harms staff wellbeing, affects recruitment and retention, and ultimately impacts the quality of care patients receive. When talented professionals feel isolated, undervalued or forced to leave because they are not treated fairly, we all lose.

This is an issue I have dedicated much of my public life to addressing.

As a former Member of the Scottish Parliament, I consistently used my platform to challenge racism, promote equality and press for stronger action against discrimination. I spoke in parliamentary debates on race equality, hate crime and community cohesion, worked with ministers and colleagues across political parties, and supported organisations committed to building a fairer Scotland.

Alongside my parliamentary work, I have been proud to work with the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), an organisation that has spent decades supporting people who experience discrimination, promoting good relations between communities and helping employers and public bodies become more inclusive. Through ELREC, I have worked with schools, local authorities, Police Scotland, NHS organisations, universities, charities, faith groups and community organisations to tackle racism, challenge prejudice and promote equality.

Throughout my career, I have firmly believed that combating racism requires more than statements of support. It requires action, leadership and a willingness to stand alongside those who experience discrimination. Equality should never be viewed as an aspiration. It should be a reality that every person experiences in their daily life.

While Scotland has made significant progress, recent years have also seen a worrying rise in racism and hate incidents across the UK. We have witnessed increasing hate speech online, abuse directed at public figures, hostility towards migrants and refugees, and discrimination affecting people simply because of their race, religion or ethnicity. These attitudes do not remain online. They spill into our workplaces, schools, hospitals and communities.

The NHS should be a place where every member of staff feels safe, respected and valued. Healthcare workers should never have to choose between protecting their dignity and providing care for others.

Creating truly inclusive workplaces requires more than policies sitting on shelves. It demands strong leadership, effective reporting systems, proper support for victims, accountability when racism occurs and ongoing education that challenges prejudice and unconscious bias. Every employer has a responsibility to create an environment where discrimination is challenged immediately and where diversity is recognised as one of the organisation’s greatest strengths.

Our diversity is one of the greatest strengths of modern Britain.

People from different cultures, languages, faiths and backgrounds enrich every aspect of our society. They bring skills, ideas and experiences that strengthen our economy, improve our public services and enrich our communities. Diversity should never be viewed as a problem to manage. It should be celebrated as one of our greatest national assets.

Tackling racism cannot be left solely to governments, employers or public bodies. Every one of us has a responsibility to speak out when we witness discrimination, support those who experience it and refuse to remain silent. Real change happens not only through legislation but also through everyday acts of courage, kindness and respect.

A fair NHS benefits every patient.

Fair workplaces create stronger public services.

Inclusive communities build a stronger Scotland and a stronger United Kingdom.

Racism has no place in our NHS.

It has no place in our workplaces.

It has no place in our politics.

And it has no place in our society.

If we truly believe in fairness, dignity and equality, then we must move beyond simply condemning racism whenever headlines appear. We must commit ourselves to eliminating it wherever it exists.

That is the kind of Scotland and the kind of United Kingdom that we should all strive to build. It is a future where everyone, regardless of their race, ethnicity or faith, can contribute, succeed and feel that they truly belong.

Foysol Choudhury MBE