First piece of yours i've read since moving here where i am in complete agreement. I was accused of objecting to Yousaf's performative little stunt on the grounds that he wass 'brown'. Quite the contrary I said having been head of comms for the Commission for Racial Equality and Media Advisor at the Islam Channel i feel perfrctly entitled to call out sexism and fundamentalism wherever i see it. And the Presbyterian church doesn't (yet) advocate stoning for female transgressors who have committed adultery. The Bute House photo call was utterly alienating even to me as a 'progressive.' I can't imagine the impact it had on the vast majority of people.
What also needs to be highlighted is that Yousaf was the chief attacker of Forbes on the grounds of her religious beliefs. Along with his campaign manager he said that people could not "trust" her because of her beliefs. That is what was said. That she couldn't be trusted. The abuse that Forbes was subjected to throughout this entire campaign horrified many people of faith. The Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland all expressed concerns about the treatment of Forbes. Yousaf's campaign people were part of that.
Like Iain I could not believe that Yousaf arranged for the press to film this prayer time in Bute House or that it went out on the evening news. Again, given the abuse he directed at Forbes on the grounds of her religion, this looks bad. Who on earth advised him to do this? I think it was highly inappropriate. What was the point of it?
EDIT. In a Herald article a few weeks back Tom Gordon wrote that Kate Forbes had "failed" to declare a potential conflict of interest - her membership of the Free Church of Scotland - in a specific register at Holyrood. The same article stated that "Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, Ms Forbes’s main rival for the SNP leadership, put “n/a” under charities, however his spokesman said he was not a member of any particular mosque, but prayed wherever he was able to do so." So he didn't have to declare any "potential conflict of interest". Yet on his first day in Bute House, an official government building, he invites press in to film prayers?
Just disturbing. Progressive rhetoric but misogynistic actions imho. Worked with anti poverty, addiction and homeless for 25 years but I'm now called a right wing fascist islamophobe. So I give up. Ah well it's Gen Zs world.
Couldn’t agree more, Iain. I also am an atheist but I found the scene quite disturbing. Firstly because it was happening in a government building and hence should be used only for government business. But secondly, and more worrying, was that there were no women present. I understand that Muslim prayers are male-only affairs, but Scottish life isn’t. To sideline women is not how our country is run, or at least it wasn’t until the nationalists decided to promote an ideology where men and their feelings are more important than women and theirs. Perhaps that’s why Yuseless is so keen on trans ideology.
First piece of yours i've read since moving here where i am in complete agreement. I was accused of objecting to Yousaf's performative little stunt on the grounds that he wass 'brown'. Quite the contrary I said having been head of comms for the Commission for Racial Equality and Media Advisor at the Islam Channel i feel perfrctly entitled to call out sexism and fundamentalism wherever i see it. And the Presbyterian church doesn't (yet) advocate stoning for female transgressors who have committed adultery. The Bute House photo call was utterly alienating even to me as a 'progressive.' I can't imagine the impact it had on the vast majority of people.
What also needs to be highlighted is that Yousaf was the chief attacker of Forbes on the grounds of her religious beliefs. Along with his campaign manager he said that people could not "trust" her because of her beliefs. That is what was said. That she couldn't be trusted. The abuse that Forbes was subjected to throughout this entire campaign horrified many people of faith. The Church of Scotland, the Free Church of Scotland and the Catholic Church in Scotland all expressed concerns about the treatment of Forbes. Yousaf's campaign people were part of that.
Like Iain I could not believe that Yousaf arranged for the press to film this prayer time in Bute House or that it went out on the evening news. Again, given the abuse he directed at Forbes on the grounds of her religion, this looks bad. Who on earth advised him to do this? I think it was highly inappropriate. What was the point of it?
EDIT. In a Herald article a few weeks back Tom Gordon wrote that Kate Forbes had "failed" to declare a potential conflict of interest - her membership of the Free Church of Scotland - in a specific register at Holyrood. The same article stated that "Health Secretary Humza Yousaf, Ms Forbes’s main rival for the SNP leadership, put “n/a” under charities, however his spokesman said he was not a member of any particular mosque, but prayed wherever he was able to do so." So he didn't have to declare any "potential conflict of interest". Yet on his first day in Bute House, an official government building, he invites press in to film prayers?
The man has never shown any signs of real intelligence, understanding, or the ability to learn and listen. Scotland is in for very very hard times.
Just disturbing. Progressive rhetoric but misogynistic actions imho. Worked with anti poverty, addiction and homeless for 25 years but I'm now called a right wing fascist islamophobe. So I give up. Ah well it's Gen Zs world.
No. Don’t give up. Fight back every day!
just so you can edit ,his mum is also in the picture,you can see her polka dot dress through his legs
But at the back.
Couldn’t agree more, Iain. I also am an atheist but I found the scene quite disturbing. Firstly because it was happening in a government building and hence should be used only for government business. But secondly, and more worrying, was that there were no women present. I understand that Muslim prayers are male-only affairs, but Scottish life isn’t. To sideline women is not how our country is run, or at least it wasn’t until the nationalists decided to promote an ideology where men and their feelings are more important than women and theirs. Perhaps that’s why Yuseless is so keen on trans ideology.
His mother is in the picture, Elizabeth, it's just that she's not visible as he's standing right in front of her.
Of course he is!