Following the escalation of anti-immigration protests in Glasgow’s city centre on Saturday, a food delivery driver was attacked by a group of protesters and subjected to racist insults and threats.
Chief superintendent Emma Croft stated that “The level of disorder, violence and intimidation we saw in Glasgow on Saturday was nothing short of disgraceful.”
We cannot agree more. The aggression directed at people within our communities, that leave people worried for their own and their family’s safety and prevent them from going after their work and their daily lives is despicable, inexcusable, and deeply concerning.
In a society that grows and thrives on diversity, there is no space for spreading fear, hate, and violence.
We stand for an inclusive, open, and safe Scotland for all and we stand with the people affected by the racism displayed at the protests in Glasgow.
If you experienced or witnessed harassment of any sort, please know that you can report this to authorities and can seek support.
No one should leave their place of worship fearing they may not make it home safely (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURYMBE). Yet that is the reality members of Edinburgh’s Muslim community faced following the recent series of appalling attacks that left innocent people injured simply because of their faith.
These attacks were not only an assault on those individuals. They were an attack on the values that define Edinburgh and Scotland: respect, equality, freedom of religion and the belief that everyone should be able to live their lives without fear.
They also serve as a reminder that racism, religious hatred and prejudice have not disappeared. Across the United Kingdom, we have seen a worrying rise in hate crime directed at people because of their race, religion, ethnicity or background.
We must never become complacent. Every act of hatred, regardless of who it targets, is an attack on the values of fairness, equality and mutual respect that bind our society together.
My thoughts remain with those who were injured, their families and everyone who has felt fear, anxiety and uncertainty as a result of these deeply disturbing events. I also commend the courage of those who came forward to assist the victims and support the police investigation.
During my five years in the Scottish Parliament, I made community safety, equality and tackling hatred central to my work. I consistently raised issues relating to policing, hate crime, racism, Islamophobia, protecting vulnerable communities and ensuring that our emergency services had the resources they needed to keep people safe. I questioned ministers on community safety, challenged the rise in racism and anti-Muslim hatred, and consistently argued that prevention, engagement and visible policing are essential to building safer communities.
In March 2025, I raised the issue of rising Islamophobia directly with the First Minister following reports that anti-Muslim hate incidents had reached record levels across the United Kingdom. During Ramadan, I reminded Parliament that it is a month of peace, compassion and reflection, and I asked what further action could be taken to ensure that Muslim communities across Scotland felt safe and protected. Sadly, those concerns remain just as relevant today.
My work did not stop inside Parliament. Before, during and after my time as an MSP, I worked closely with the Edinburgh and Lothians Regional Equality Council (ELREC), Police Scotland, local authorities, faith leaders and community organisations to tackle racism, promote equality, strengthen community cohesion and encourage dialogue between people of different faiths and backgrounds.
Through ELREC and many other partnerships, I have supported initiatives that bring communities together, challenge discrimination and build trust between public services and the people they serve.
As Chair of the Cross Party Group on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice, I brought together Police Scotland, equality organisations, academics, faith representatives and community leaders to address racism, religious hatred and discrimination. Those discussions reinforced my belief that tackling hatred requires long term commitment, education, partnership and leadership.
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Throughout my time in Parliament, I also argued that Police Scotland should be properly funded. Our officers are expected to deal with increasingly complex challenges, including terrorism, organised crime, hate crime, cybercrime, violence against women and girls and the protection of vulnerable people. They cannot continue to be asked to do more with fewer resources. Proper investment in policing is an investment in safer communities.
The professionalism shown by Police Scotland throughout this investigation deserves the highest praise. Officers responded swiftly, carried out a thorough investigation and worked tirelessly to identify and arrest a suspect.
The involvement of specialist counter terrorism officers demonstrated that every available resource would be used to investigate these serious allegations thoroughly. Their dedication and professionalism should give reassurance to every community across Edinburgh and Scotland.
I know from my own experience working alongside Police Scotland over many years that officers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep the public safe. They deserve our gratitude, our respect and the resources necessary to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
I would like to thank every officer involved in this investigation for their commitment, professionalism and compassion during what has been an extremely difficult time for those affected.
What has also given me hope is the response from the people of Edinburgh.
In the days following these attacks, faith leaders, community organisations, charities, volunteers, elected representatives and residents from every background stood alongside the victims and their families. They demonstrated that the values of compassion, respect and solidarity are stronger than hatred.
This is the true character of Edinburgh. We are a city built on diversity, where people from different cultures, faiths and backgrounds live, work, study and contribute together. The Muslim community has made an enormous contribution to our city’s success through business, healthcare, education, public service, charity and civic life. An attack on one community is an attack on us all.
We must continue to challenge racism, Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti Sikh hatred, anti Hindu hatred, prejudice against Christians and every other form of discrimination wherever it appears.
Hatred does not begin with violence. It often begins with harmful language, stereotypes and intolerance. If we are serious about building a safer Scotland, we must challenge prejudice at every stage before it escalates into acts of violence.
Education, community engagement and early intervention are just as important as strong law enforcement. Building trust between communities and public institutions is one of the most effective ways of preventing hatred from taking root.
Throughout my public life, whether serving in the Scottish Parliament or working with organisations such as ELREC, I have believed that diversity is one of Scotland’s greatest strengths. We must never allow those who spread hatred to undermine the progress we have made in building a fairer, more inclusive and more compassionate nation.
Scotland has earned an international reputation as an open, welcoming and inclusive nation. We must never take that reputation for granted. It requires continued leadership, properly funded public services, strong policing, active community organisations and a collective determination to protect the values that unite us.
Hatred seeks to divide. Edinburgh chose unity.
Violence seeks to create fear. Our communities responded with compassion.
Extremism seeks to isolate people because of their faith. Scotland responded with resilience.
I commend Police Scotland for their professionalism, determination and reassurance throughout this investigation. I remain convinced that they must continue to receive the funding, officers and specialist resources they need to protect every community across our country. Supporting our police is not simply about law enforcement. It is about safeguarding the values of justice, equality and security that define Scotland.
The true measure of a society is not whether hatred exists, but how people respond when it appears. Edinburgh’s response has shown the very best of our city. Our police, our community organisations, our faith leaders and our residents stood together. They refused to allow hatred to divide our city.
That is the Edinburgh I have always worked to serve.
That is the Scotland I believe in.
Foysol Choudhury MBE
Former Member of the Scottish Parliament & Shadow Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development.
Update following incidents that happened in Edinburgh on Friday 19 June:
We recognise the concerns felt within all communities, including those who experienced and witnessed these horrific attacks, and we understand concerns may be heightened at this time. Policing and communities experience the direct impact and live time reactions to international conflicts, UK incidents and online commentary.
It is important that all communities across Scotland feel supported, protected and able to go about their daily lives without fear of hatred or intimidation.
Community cohesion is a partnership effort. Since Friday, we have engaged with over 90 multi-faith organisations and community leaders in Edinburgh and across Scotland. Local policing officers have visited businesses affected by the incident and will continue to do so. We are carrying out a community impact assessment and will closely monitor the situation to ensure the safety and well-being of all communities, and we are prepared to respond promptly to any emerging issues.
We have also been in touch with the police officers who bravely carried out the arrest on Friday, as well as speaking to other officers to offer any support they need.
A 36-year-old man was arrested and charged, and is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today. While there is no wider threat, it continues to be a live ongoing investigation led by Counter Terrorism Policing Scotland, supported by local policing officers in Edinburgh and other specialist national capabilities in Scotland.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up to encourage members of the public to submit information directly to officers.
We would appeal to anyone with information that could assist to upload it using the online form, including those with doorbell or dashcam footage
Anyone impacted by the incident can access free, confidential, emotional and practical support from Victim Support Scotland https://orlo.uk/x0Grk
We would urge everyone to continue to work together and ensure no person or group in Scotland feels marginalised or isolated. We are a police service for every community.
Our message is clear – there is no place for violence, hatred, or intimidation in our communities.
YESTERDAY (Friday, 19 June, 2026), police received multiple calls from members of the public about violent attacks including, threats, robbery and vandalism across Edinburgh, with five people injured.
Five men, two aged 22, and others aged 24, 27, and 39, sustained a range of injuries and three required hospital treatment, however none of the injuries are life threatening.
A 36-year-old white Scottish man was arrested and there is no further threat to the public.
Counter Terrorism Policing Scotland is investigating, supported by other specialist colleagues and local policing officers.
The first report originated from around 8.50pm in the Sighthill area, where two men were injured. They were taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary by ambulance.
Over the following period, reports were received about incidents around retailers across the West and North of the city.
During this period, three other men were attacked in the Telford Road and Leith Walk areas, suffering differing injuries.
Around 9.30pm, local police officers equipped with Taser confronted a suspect and, although Taser was not discharged, the man was detained.
The individual remains in custody and enquiries continue. Local policing patrols will continue across the area and our communities will see a visible policing presence over coming days.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton said: “This was a shocking attack and my first thoughts are with those who were injured and most directly affected.
“I want to send a clear message of support to all our communities that there is no place for racism or faith-based hate in a Scotland which is at its best when we stand together.
“Officers responded to multiple reports of a fast-moving sequence of events across Edinburgh before arresting a man and public safety was our priority.
“Extensive work is ongoing to establish all the circumstances. We are being supported by Counter Terrorism Policing and working under the direction of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
“I want to thank our officers who responded with bravery and professionalism, and with a focus on protecting the public.
“I’m hugely grateful for the support and assistance of our communities and would appeal for anyone with any information to share it with police. We have established a major incident police portal.”
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been set up to encourage members of the public to submit information directly to officers.
We would appeal to anyone with information that could assist with enquiries to upload it using the online form here:
First Minister John Swinney said: “I am deeply concerned by these incidents. There is no place for violence, racism or intolerance in our country.
“I met community groups last week to assure them of the strong support of the Government.”
Prime Minister (at time of writing! – Ed.) Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Absolutely appalling.No one should face violence on our streets.
“The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred. I will not tolerate this – he will face the full force of the law.
‘My thoughts are with those who are injured and I thank the police and the emergency services for their response.’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood added: “I am horrified by news of the attack in Edinburgh.
“I am grateful to the police and emergency services for their bravery in apprehending the suspect and for their speedy response in attending to the victims.
“The suspect appears to be motivated by anti-Muslim hatred.
“There is no place for hatred and violence against Muslims. I know it is not who we are as a country.”
Conservative Party Leader Kemi Badenoch said: “People should be free to worship, work and walk our streets without fear. The attack in Edinburgh is disturbing.
Violence in our streets is bad enough but reports indicate some of the victims were targeted because they were Muslim. This is abhorrent.
“I am glad police acted swiftly. The victims and their families deserve justice, and the public must have confidence that the law applies equally to everyone.”
Council Leader responds to attacks in Edinburgh
Following a series of incidents across the city yesterday (Friday 19 June), Council Leader Jane Meagher has condemned the attacks and has paid tribute to the response of emergency services.
Councillor Meagher said: “I was shocked and outraged to hear about the appalling incidents that took place across the city on Friday.
“I, and fellow Councillors, stand in solidarity with those affected by what must have been a deeply traumatic experience. My thoughts are with those injured in the attacks and I wish them a quick recovery.
“I want to pay tribute to Police Scotland, including counter terrorism officers, and other emergency services for their quick action.
“I absolutely echo the words of Police Scotland that there is no place for racism or faith-based hate. I condemn all acts of racist violence and disorder – there is simply no place for it in our city.
“Those in our Muslim communities may understandably be feeling worried and concerned. I want to reassure that we will be working closely with Police colleagues and other partners to do all we can to make sure that communities across the city are safe and supported.
“Edinburgh is a proud diverse and welcoming city – strengthened by those from all backgrounds, cultures, faiths and walks of life that live here. Incidents like this remind us of the need to stand together against racism and prejudice.”
THE EDINBURGH INTERFAITH ASSOCIATION HAS ISSUED A STATEMENT:
MUSLIM COUNCIL OF SCOTLAND CALLS FOR REASSURANCE AND COMMUNITY VIGILANCE
The Muslim Council of Scotland remains deeply concerned by the violent incidents reported across Edinburgh yesterday, including the stabbing of two young Muslim students in Broomhouse and attacks on individuals perceived to be Muslim.
We welcome Police Scotland’s update confirming that a man has been arrested, there is no further threat to the public, and enquiries remain ongoing.
We have sought reassurance from Police Scotland, particularly as mosques and community organisations host family events this weekend and members of the Shia community prepare to mark Muharram in the coming days.
We encourage communities to remain calm, vigilant and mindful of their personal safety, and for organisers to review security arrangements where appropriate.
Our thoughts are with all those injured and affected. We thank Police Scotland and emergency services for their swift response and continued engagement.
MUSLIM ENGAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STATEMENT
Four people were attacked and hospitalised across West Edinburgh and Leith last night. Several are Muslims. Our prayers are with them – may Allah grant them healing and protection.
Police Scotland must treat this as what the evidence indicates: Islamophobic, far right terror. To investigate these attacks while ignoring a motive shouted aloud at the point of arrest would tell every Muslim in Scotland the law does not see the hatred aimed at them. We expect a hate crime investigation and prosecution, and we stand ready to support the families.
To our community: stay vigilant, look out for one another, report what you see. You are not alone.
John Swinney: When we stand together, we make Scotland stronger
First Minister John Swinney has reaffirmed the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling racism in all its forms, following the recent disorder in Glasgow and elsewhere in Scotland.
Meeting representatives of the Anti-Racism Coalition and the Scottish Refugee Council in Edinburgh, the First Minister pledged to work closely with Police Scotland, the third sector and other partners to ensure that people and communities are safe and swift action is taken against those who seek to intimidate and promote hatred.
Mr Swinney sought to reassure those who are feeling anxious, targeted or unsafe. He said: “I am clear that I am First Minister for everyone in Scotland. For every community, every background, every faith, and every identity.
“The recent disorder in Glasgow and elsewhere, following the serious incidents in Belfast and Southampton, have caused a lot of distress for many people. Violence is never acceptable, and those responsible must be held accountable to ensure the safety of all our communities.
“My government stands firmly against hatred in all its forms. That means building trust, tackling prejudice at its roots, and strengthening the connections that bind our communities together.
“Because when people feel heard and valued, we reduce fear. When we build trust, we weaken division. And when we stand together, we make Scotland stronger.
“We cannot allow the actions of a small, hateful minority to define us or what we stand for. Nor we can we allow fear to take hold. Instead, we must be guided by the kind of country we know Scotland is.
“One where everyone is treated with dignity and respect, and where everyone can live safely and without fear. My government is committed to that vision and to working hand in hand with partners and communities across Scotland to deliver it.
“Through our Community Cohesion funding, New Scots funding, the Equality and Human Rights Fund, and other support for communities and groups, we are already supporting hundreds of cross-community activities.
“These projects are helping to bring people together, educate, and tackle misinformation and disinformation, ultimately building stronger communities where people feel safe.”
Chief Executive of Scottish Refugee Council Sabir Zazai said: “Everyone has the right to feel safe.
“Last week we saw violence in our streets and people being targeted because of the colour of their skin. Irresponsible language, toxic narratives and repeated falsehoods are causing real-life harm to innocent people.
“It is vital that we name racism and call out misinformation when we see it. We need to see the Scottish Government lead the way by investing in cohesion and ensuring people seeking safety and the communities who welcome them have the infrastructure and support they need to thrive.”
Pioneering fund announces long-term awards tackling poverty, racism and climate change across the city marking a major milestone in the ten-year commitment to community-led change.
Following an open city-wide application process, eleven organisations and collaborative partnerships have been selected to receive sustained support.
THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS ARE:
Be United;
Cables Wynd House Residents Group with Making Rights Real;
Sudanese Community Edinburgh with Edinburgh Science Foundation;
Transition Edinburgh South with Edinburgh Community Food.
Each award will provide up to a million pounds over ten years, offering rare long-term, unrestricted funding designed to enable deep and lasting change in communities across Edinburgh.
Funding decisions were made by a Residents’ Panel made up of local people with lived experience of poverty and racism.
Projects supported include those building financial security and tackling stigma around poverty within Edinburgh’s Sikh community, supporting paid opportunities for Black creatives to address structural barriers in the arts sector, and co-designing local food and medicine production and distribution.
Other awards span a range of organisations and partnerships across the city, delivering initiatives such as advocating for improved local housing conditions, supporting community-led climate focussed activities initially within the Sudanese community, and engaging local communities around the development of heat network implementation.
Leah Black, Co-Head of the Fund, said: “Reaching this stage is hugely significant, allowing organisations and partnerships to turn long-held ambitions into long-term action.
“The Regenerative Futures Fund represents a real shift in how funding can be transformational when communities are placed at the centre.
“We are deeply grateful to all involved, and to the Residents’ Panel whose time and insight shaped every stage of this journey. In the wealthiest city in Scotland, where 17% of people – including 21% of all children – live in relative poverty, we are operating in a complex environment.
“Poverty, racism and climate change are interconnected, real and present challenges for us all, and tackling them requires long-term commitment, trust and collective action.”
Aala Ross, Co-Head of the Fund, said: “This is a landmark moment for Edinburgh. These organisations will receive long-term, unrestricted funding to support the work they are already leading in their communities.
“This has been a long, collaborative process shaped by months of dialogue and reflection across the city. This Fund is about trust, and about recognising that communities already hold the knowledge needed to create change. We will continue working alongside them and learning from them over the years ahead.”
Representatives from Migrant Justice Edinburgh said:“The Regenerative Futures Fund represents a funding approach that feels both timely and important within the current landscape.
“It offers something that remains relatively rare: long-term, 10-year support that enables organisations to think and act beyond short-term cycles. This creates the conditions for work that is strategic, adaptive, and focused on long-term change.
“Just as importantly, the Fund places strong emphasis on centring residents — particularly those most affected by poverty — and encourages an intersectional approach that recognises how poverty is shaped by racism, the climate crisis, and wider structural inequalities.”
The Residents’ Panel said: “This wasn’t just about selecting projects, it was about responsibility to the city and the future.
“We wanted to create a better Edinburgh and that has driven this work from the very beginning. We’ve seen the strength, creativity and ambition that already exists across the city, and this process was about giving groups the capacity and trust to deliver the real change we all need to see.
“It has been a real privilege to be part of something that is so grounded yet so innovative.”
The Fund is supported by a coalition of national and local funders, including charitable foundations, local authority and philanthropic partners, who pooled resources but stepped back from decision-making to place control within communities.
Those who have already committed funding towards the pooled Fund include the City of Edinburgh Council, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland, The Robertson Trust, Turn2us Edinburgh Trust, and Foundation Scotland, who also host the Fund.
Recent local philanthropic support from Tom Ward and other local philanthropists reflects growing confidence in the Fund’s approach. The Fund continues to welcome new funding partners supporting long-term, community-led change.
Giles Ruck, Chief Executive of Foundation Scotland, said: “The Regenerative Futures Fund represents something quite rare in the funding world.
“It offers long-term, collaborative funding, where those who already hold the expertise and lived experience of the issues this fund is designed to challenge, are leading.
“We need to see more of this. It puts trust in communities and gives organisations the time and flexibility they need to address complex challenges. This Fund offers a powerful alternative to short-term thinking and could influence place-based funding far beyond Edinburgh.”
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “We’ve been clear in setting ambitious targets to address poverty, reach net zero by 2030 and to tackle racist rhetoric in Edinburgh.
“This significant support will help us to move closer to our goals while backing grassroots projects and organisations which are already make a real difference across the city, selected by the people who live here.
“The challenges we face are real – that 17% of our residents still live in relative poverty is simply unacceptable, while people continue to face racism and exclusion, all while the climate crisis looms large. This funding will provide a welcome boost to a range of organisations addressing these challenges, and I look forward to seeing more from the projects it will help to deliver.”
Over the coming months, the funded cohort will begin long-term delivery work across Edinburgh, focused on tackling the root causes of poverty, racism and climate inequality through community-led approaches.
The Regenerative Futures Fund will continue as a learning and collaboration network across the city, supporting knowledge-sharing and connection beyond the funded cohort.
A list of descriptions of the organisations and partnerships can be found here.
Some further writing about the collaboration and the connections between the organisations can be found here.
SCOTTISH Palestine Solidarity Campaign@scottish_psc has launched a new Scotland-wide interactive map spotlighting 120+ Apartheid Free Zones, including @govanhillapartheidfreezone.
Cafés, shops, unions, musicians, community groups and organisations standing in solidarity with Palestine.
These spaces have pledged to support the BDS movement, boycott companies complicit in Israeli apartheid, and build anti-racist, ethical communities rooted in justice.
From local workplaces to cultural hubs, AFZs show that while governments stall, people are taking action. An act of solidarity forming a powerful, growing network of hope and resistance across Scotland.
Explore the map: www.apartheidfree.scot� Not listed yet? Businesses and organisations are invited to join and help grow the movement.
The Jewish Council of Scotland response to Apartheid Free Zones in Scotland campaign
The Jewish Council of Scotland (JCoS) is alarmed at the announcement reported in yesterday’s media of the Apartheid Free Zones in Scotland campaign – launched by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which aims to achieve a boycott of Israel across Scotland in support of the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement.
The strident hatred and intimidation associated with this movement has a profound effect on Jews living in Scotland, and with ever increasing incidents of antisemitic behaviour towards the Jewish population this activity is of significant concern to us.
JCoS believes the impact of this campaign will build on the fear created by the so-called Leith ‘Zionist Free Zone’ in Edinburgh, which many Jews in Leith regarded as targeting them, regardless of their personal views on Israel.
“Our concern is that Jewish people in Scotland will be branded as racist”, says Timothy Lovat, Chair of JCoS. “This campaign does nothing to attack racism and promote racial equality in Scotland.”
The administrative suspension and effective deselection of Scotland’s first Bangladeshi Muslim MSP—without a concluded investigation or formal complaint exposes troubling inconsistencies in Labour’s internal processes and raises wider concerns about Islamophobia and racial bias within the party.
The treatment of Foysol Chowdhury MSP by the Labour Party raises profound and troubling questions about fairness, due process, and whether institutional racism and Islamophobia continue to operate within the party (writes Cllr HABIB RAHMAN, Independent Councillor, Former Lord Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne).
Foysol Chowdhury made history in 2021 when he became Scotland’s first Bangladeshi Muslim MSP. Since his election, he has served his constituents diligently, taken on multiple shadow cabinet roles, and built a strong reputation as a hard-working and effective parliamentarian.
Within the British Bangladeshi community across the UK, his political success was widely seen as a breakthrough moment—proof that politics could finally reflect the diversity of modern Britain.
Beyond politics, Foysol is a successful businessman, human rights campaigner, and philanthropist. He is also a devoted family man, married for over 30 years with two adult children.
In August 2025, Foysol underwent the standard reselection process for the 2026 Scottish Parliament election. At a full members’ hustings held on 13 August, he received unanimous support and was democratically selected as Labour’s candidate for Edinburgh Northern.
What followed has been nothing short of a political and personal ordeal.
On 25 September 2025, Foysol was informed by email that he had been placed under “administrative suspension” by the Labour Party’s Governance and Legal Unit (GLU) following an alleged serious conduct complaint. No details were provided. He was not told the nature of the allegation, when it was made, who made it, or even whether a formal complaint existed.
Almost immediately, media speculation erupted, falsely portraying Foysol as a sexual predator and suggesting allegations involving a female staff member.
This speculation was later publicly corrected by the GLU, which confirmed that reports of sexual misconduct were false and that the matter related instead to an allegation of bullying. By that point, however, the damage to Foysol’s reputation had already been done.
More than three months later, Foysol remains suspended. He has not been interviewed, asked for a statement, or given any meaningful opportunity to respond. His solicitors were informed by the GLU in November that the “assessment could not be completed unless the complainant decided to submit a formal complaint”.
This raises an extraordinary question: how can an elected representative be suspended indefinitely on the basis of a complaint that may not even formally exist?
Despite this unresolved situation, Scottish Labour proceeded as though Foysol no longer existed. In December 2025, party officials announced that applications had opened to “fill the vacancy” in Edinburgh Northern, using an all-women shortlist. This is despite the fact that Foysol had already been selected by members and no finding had been made against him.
A shortlist of three candidates was approved, with a hustings scheduled for January 2026. Notably, the shortlist contains no candidates of colour. For a party that routinely speaks about diversity and representation, this is deeply concerning.
I want to be absolutely clear on one point. Foysol Chowdhury is a friend. However, as a lifelong campaigner against bullying and harassment, I would be among the first to condemn him if he were found guilty of bullying or harassment of any kind. No one should be above accountability. But accountability requires evidence, due process, and fairness—not whispers, leaks, and indefinite suspension.
I also speak from personal experience. I left the Labour Party in January 2024 after repeatedly challenging Islamophobia and racism within its structures. I did so in the hope that the party would reflect, reform, and improve. Sadly, I see no evidence that this has happened. If anything, under the current leadership, the situation has worsened.
There is also a clear and troubling precedent that exposes a double standard. I submitted a formal complaint to the Labour Party on 8 March 2022 against a sitting Labour councillor. Despite this, that councillor—who is white—was permitted to remain on the ballot paper as a Labour candidate in the May 2022 local elections.
The GLU delayed imposing any administrative suspension until after the councillor had submitted their nomination papers to Newcastle City Council. Only then was a 12-month suspension imposed. That councillor went on to win the seat as a Labour candidate, served the suspension period, and later returned to the party.
This stands in stark contrast to the treatment of Foysol Choudhury—a Black Muslim MSP—who has been suspended without a concluded investigation, without a formal complaint, and effectively removed from selection.
What we are witnessing in Foysol Choudhury’s case is an effective deselection without investigation, a punishment without a verdict, and a complete abandonment of one of Labour’s most prominent minority representatives. It is difficult to avoid the conclusion that this case would have been handled very differently had Foysol not been a Bangladeshi Muslim man.
Under Keir Starmer’s leadership, Labour increasingly appears detached from the principles of justice, equality, and solidarity it once claimed to uphold. The handling of this case by Scottish Labour and the GLU risks reinforcing the perception that the party is comfortable sidelining minority voices when they become inconvenient.
The Labour Party must act urgently. Either there is a formal complaint that can be investigated promptly and fairly, or there is not. If there is no formal complaint, Foysol Choudhury should be reinstated immediately, his suspension lifted, and his democratic selection respected.
An unreserved apology is owed—not only to him, but to the communities who saw his election as a symbol of progress. Anything less will confirm the belief that Labour has failed one of its own—and in doing so, failed the values it claims to stand for.
Taken together, the evidence in this case leads to a deeply troubling conclusion: that racism and Islamophobia remain real, unresolved problems within the Labour Party’s internal culture and decision-making processes.
Launched: Scotland’s Apartheid Free Zones Map 
Explore the map: 
Not listed yet? Businesses and organisations are invited to join and help grow the movement.
