FIVE serious hate crimes have been committed in Glasgow in the past 10 days as a result an “abhorrent” anti-Muslim campaign, according to Anas Sarwar.
The MSP and his Holyrood colleagues will today consider further action to tackle a social media and letter campaign urging people to “punish” a Muslim.
Police Scotland representatives will tell MSPs what the force has done so far to crack down on the issue.
The officers will set out their response at a meeting with the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group (CPG) on tackling Islamophobia, chaired by Labour MSP Sarwar.
A statement issued on behalf of the Labour MSP said Glasgow’s ethnic minority communities have been alerted after allegations of five serious hate crimes in the past 10 days.
These are said to include an allegation that a schoolboy asked a young girl if he could pull her hijab off and film it to earn “points” for the campaign, which are assigned for crimes against Muslims.
Other incidents in Glasgow include a woman allegedly being punched in the face outside a supermarket, and another woman allegedly racially abused by three men and assaulted on a train.
Sarwar said: “The abhorrent ‘Punish a Muslim’ campaign is causing fear and alarm among communities across the UK, including in Scotland. It is a sick social media craze that has absolutely no place in our society.
“We will be discussing this issue and the police and community response at the CPG meeting to identify what additional action can be taken to reassure people. We have a duty to stand against racism and prejudice in all its forms.”
Letters were sent to people in Bradford, Leicester, London, Cardiff and Sheffield this month claiming a “Punish a Muslim Day” would take place next week.
Muhammad Adrees, convener of the Muslim Council of Scotland, said: “The letters are a chilling reminder of the very real danger and hatred facing ordinary Muslims every day.
“Although there are no known recipients in Scotland, they have nonetheless caused considerable alarm and the community needs reassurance, especially since the letters have already triggered Islamophobic incidents here.”
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