HUMZA YOUSAF Gun tweet made me fear attack
Justice Secretary tells court how ‘keyboard warrior’ targeted him
JUSTICE Secretary Humza Yousaf told a court yesterday that he fears an attack from a “keyboard warrior”, amid claims he was racially abused on Twitter.
The 35-year-old SNP MSP said he was singled out following the Paris terror attacks in November 2015.
He tweeted “#PrayForParis” and claimed he received an abusive reply from Stuart Smith, 57.
Yousaf stated he was accused of supporting terrorists and raising money for their families.
The tweet, which was accompanied with an account with a gun as its avatar, was posted from an account in Scotland. Smith is on trial at Glasgow Sheriff Court. He denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by religious prejudice.
Yousaf said he first received a tweet from a “Stuart Ben Smith” with the word “kafir” in Arabic script alongside the name. It means “non-believer”.
The politician told the court this was a “derogatory comment” towards Muslims.
The tweet said: “Humza Yousaf, good Scots name I am sure he is 90 per cent backing muslim killers. Be having a whip round for terrorist families soon.”
Yousaf stated that he had been “singled out because of his faith”. He said: “I spent the hours before like everyone else shocked at the events and the atrocities in Paris.
“I did nothing but send out a public message supporting the victims and was on radio and media asserting my solidarity with the victims.
“It is unacceptable that I would be supporting these terrorists and collecting funds for them despite all the evidence to the contrary.
“To make that suggestion is hurtful and stressful to me.
“There is only one reason why it was directed at me and none of my other colleagues were treated in a similar way. It’s because of my faith – my Muslim faith.”
Yousaf stated he could be found very easily and have his movements “telegraphed” by “keyboard warriors.”
He said: “I can’t say for certain everyone is a keyboard warrior.
“One could cause me harm and that gives me fear, getting a tweet from Scotland with a gun as an avatar.”
The contentious tweet was a reply to a @GWalker1312 Twitter account, which had Yousaf tagged into it in response to his Paris tweet.
Yousaf told the court that the @GWalker1312 account was one he was familiar with as it had sent him “derogatory remarks” about his faith.
Sheriff Sean Murphy QC adjourned the trial until the end of the month.
Smith, of Gretna, had his bail continued meantime.
There is only one reason why it was directed at me – my Muslim faith
HUMZA YOUSAF GIVING EVIDENCE YESTERDAY