Muslim and Jewish women afraid to travel on trains and buses
By Bill Heaney
Islamophobia and antisemitism are on the rise – but so too is the campaign to halt this hate crime. Anas Sarwar, the Glasgow Labour MSP, told the Scottish Parliament: “This week saw the Muslim and Jewish communities come together to sign a landmark joint communique to call out and challenge Islamophobia and antisemitism in Scotland. Together, Muslim and Jewish women born in Scotland are telling about how they have been called traitors, spat at and told to go home, and how they are scared of travelling on Scotland’s public transport system. Silence is no longer an option in the face of such hate.”
Mr Sarwar asked First Minister Nicola Sturgeon if the time had come to stop leaving the fight against all forms of prejudice and hate “to any individual community and that it must be a fight for all of us”.
The First Minister, pictured left, told him the agreement between the Muslim and Jewish to join together to fight prejudice “are a better representation of Scotland than the actions of those who indulge in hate crime”.
She added: “I absolutely agree that there is no place for silence. None of us should be bystanders when it comes to tackling and calling out hate crime; there is an obligation on all of us.
“I say very clearly but very strongly that an attack on any Muslim, any Jew or any member of any minority community should be seen as an attack on all of us.
“And that we should have solidarity and stand shoulder to shoulder at all times. I say that as First Minister and I hope that I am joined in that sentiment by every single member in the chamber.”