Yousaf: ‘I fear being assaulted by keyboard warriors’

JUSTICE Secretary Humza Yousaf yesterday told a court how he fears an physical attack from a ‘keyboard warrior’ – as he described the racial abuse he suffers on social media.

The Nationalist MSP said he had been accused of supporting terrorists and raising money for their families.

Mr Yousaf, 35, said he was singled out for abuse ‘because of my faith’ after he tweeted #PrayForParis following terror attacks in the French capital in November 2015.

He told Glasgow Sheriff Court his show of ‘solidarity’ prompted a ‘derogatory’ reply.

The court heard that tweet came from an account in Scotland that featured a gun as the user’s profile picture.

Stuart Smith, 57, of Gretna, Dumfriesshire, denies behaving in a threatening or abusive manner aggravated by religious prejudice.

Mr Yousaf told the court he received a tweet from a ‘Stuart Ben Smith’ containing the word ‘Kafir’ in Arabic script alongside the name, which means ‘non-believer’.

Mr Yousaf said this was ‘derogatory’ towards Muslims. The tweet said: ‘Humza Yousaf, good

‘Its because of my faith – my Muslim faith’

Scots name I am sure he is 90% backing muslim killers. Be having a whip-round for terrorist families soon.’

Mr Yousaf told the court: ‘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 terrorists and collecting funds for them... to make that suggestion is hurtful and stressful.

‘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.’

Mr Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow Pollok, said he could be found easily and have his movements ‘telegraphed’ by ‘keyboard warriors’.

He said: ‘One could cause me harm and that gives me fear – getting a tweet from Scotland with a gun as an avatar.’

The tweet was a reply to another account, @GWalker1312, with Mr Yousaf tagged.

The MSP said he had received derogatory remarks about his faith from the account.

The trial will resume at the end of the month. Sheriff Sean Murphy continued Smith’s bail.