The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Health secretary’ s wife suing city nursery over alleged discrimination
Court action is to be taken against a nursery in Dundee which allegedly rejected the daughter of Scotland’s health secretary and his wife.
Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla applied for a place for young Amal at the Little Scholars Day Nursery in Broughty Ferry, but were turned down, with the business claiming there was no space.
But just two days later a white friend of the couple was told there were spaces for her son on three afternoons every week.
Mr Yousaf and Ms
El-Nakla reported the nursery to the Care Inspectorate but also instructed solicitor Aamer Anwar to initiate legal proceedings – which are now being taken to court.
A statement from Mr Anwar said: “On Monday August 9 2021, a claim was intimated on the Little Scholars Day Nursery, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, for a breach of the Equality Act 2010, in respect of alleged discrimination suffered by Nadia El-Nakla and her daughter, Amal Yousaf.
“We received a response from those acting for the nursery on Monday August 23 2021.
“This response refutes that there has been any discriminatory behaviour, but fails to provide a reasoned explanation as to why there were repeated refusals to accommodate children with Muslim/ minority ethnic names, whilst at the same time children with white/ Scottish names were offered nursery places.
“This is all despite the fact that other bodies including the Care Inspectorate and the Equality and Human
Rights Commission have expressed an interest in this case.
“Under the circumstances, Nadia ElNakla has no option but to proceed with court action against the nursery.
“The nursery was given 14 days (until Monday) to provide full settlement proposals, a public apology and compensation to be paid to an “anti-racist charity of our client’s choosing” or court action would be raised at Dundee Sheriff Court.”
A spokesman for Little Scholars Day Nursery said: “A full and detailed response to the allegations made by Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla has been provided; however, we have yet to receive a response or even an acknowledgement to this.
“We abhor discrimination in all its forms and it is not and would not be tolerated at the nursery.
“Little Scholars Day Nursery takes pride in being an inclusive nursery that is open and welcoming to all.
“We refute the claims made by Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla and any proceedings raised will be robustly defended.”