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Scottish National Leaders Hustings: The Muslim Perspective

Scottish National Leaders Hustings: The Muslim Perspective

Categories: Past Event Articles

Tuesday April 27 2021

As part of Scotland’s GOAV (Get Out And Vote) campaign we organised a host of husting events across the whole of Scotland. These culminated in a national husting event on Thursday 15th April with all party leaders for the main five political parties in Scotland.

Each event was organised with partner organisations and the leaders’ event was no exception as we took to the stage with the Muslim Council of Scotland (MCS). An umbrella body with over 90 affiliates; mosques, community organisations and Muslim schools, MCS seeks to build positive relationships within civil society to promote understanding and advocate for better social change.

Hosting the event was Omar Afzal Mosque and community lead for MCS. Although due to a technical issue at the beginning of the program, Linsay Taylor Regional Manager Scotland kicked the program off with introductions and initial questions.

Party Leaders in attendance were:

  • First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Scottish National Party
  • Willie Rennie SNP, Scottish Liberal Democrats
  • Lorna Slater Co-Leader, Scottish Green Party
  • Douglas Ross MP, Scottish Conservative Party
  • Anas Sarwar MSP, Scottish Labour Party

We were delighted when all party leaders agreed to take part in the event, but thought we needed to ensure that an event of such calibre needed a stage to fit. This is why MEND reached out to British Muslim TV (BMTV), who were only too delighted to broadcast the event live on Sky 752 and Freeview 264 via Vision TV. With BMTV onboard others including Radio Ramadan Glasgow 365 were only too pleased to also provide air time for what was shaping up to be the political event of the year.

At the event, political leaders answered a number of questions relevant to MEND’s Scotland policy pledges. Areas, relevant to the Muslim community include such issues as PREVENT, Islamophobia in our education system and the need for proportionate representation within our political system. This led to all political parties committing to MEND’s open letter, which was signed by over 35 Muslim and equality organisations and made the ask:

“We thus call upon all political parties in Scotland to sign a commitment to place more Muslim candidates in winnable seats as part of their fight against Islamophobia”.

Political leaders also answered questions from the floor. One such question which focused on the plight of the Uighur Muslims brought a unanimous confirmation from all party leaders

That yes what is happening in China to the Uighur Muslim’s is Genocide.  

The full event can be viewed at: Facebook

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