A COMPLAINT was received nine months ago about a church of Scotland minister who heckled Jeremy Corbyn with comments about Islam.
Earlier today, as the Labour leader visited Glasgow on the campaign trail, Reverend Richard Cameron referenced the tartan scarf he was wearing, saying: “I thought you’d be wearing your Islamic Jihad scarf?”
The minister went on to call Corbyn a "terrorist sympathiser".
READ MORE: Jeremy Corbyn heckled by Church of Scotland minister in Glasgow
After the incident, social media posts from Cameron surfaced online in which he had called Islam a "religion of violence", suggested Muslims kill their children for becoming Christian, and accused gay people of celebrating "perversion". A number of other tweets drew criticism from social media users.
The Church of Scotland announced that a formal complaints process into Cameron's conduct had been opened, adding they "deplore any comments which are Islamophobic or homophobic".
However, it has since emerged that Humanist Society Scotland complained about Cameron's behaviour on social media in February this year – a full nine months ago.
The society's Scotland chief executive Fraser Sutherland complained about a tirade against Humanists.
The Presbytery of Glasgow closed the complaint noting they had "given advice in relation to social media" to the minister.
Responding Cameron's actions today, Fraser Sutherland said: "Unfortunately I'm not surprised by the actions of Rev Cameron given I highlighted his aggressive approach to other faiths and beliefs on social media to the Kirk over nine months ago.
"It is disappointing that very little appears to have happened in this time and he's continuing to denigrate people of different beliefs to his so publicly. It's disappointing that it's taken for him to target a UK political leader for the Church to take complaints against him seriously."
Cameron's actions also drew criticism from the Muslim Council of Scotland. A spokesperson criticised his "divisive" actions.
They said: "We appreciate these comments are not representative of the Church of Scotland. They are deeply disappointing, given we are currently in Interfaith Week.
"This is a time in which across Scotland, communities of all faiths and none, come together to celebrate our diversity and what we have in common.
"There is always a time and place to challenge political views and have robust discussion on religion.
"However, the minister's actions are divisive and do not help to support positive dialogue and understanding."
A Church of Scotland spokesperson said: “There has been significant concern raised today about the comments made by Rev Richard Cameron and his social media use.
“At this stage, all we can say is that there is a formal complaints process and that any complaints we receive in relation to this matter will be taken seriously and addressed.
“We do deplore any comments which are Islamophobic or homophobic.
“The Church of Scotland works closely with our Islamic neighbours and the General Assembly has taken a strong position and said formally that we decry homophobia in any form."
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