Yousaf family embroiled in anti-semitism row
Scottish leader’s parents take down display of Palestinian flags from window of company office
‘Posters like this call for the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people, and are anti-semitic’
HUMZA YOUSAF’S parents have taken down pro-palestinian posters from the window of their family business after they were accused of advocating for the “annihilation of Israel and Jews”.
The Yousaf & Co accountancy firm, which the First Minister’s father Muzaffar set up after he emigrated from Pakistan in the 1960s, had a large pro-palestinian window display at its prominent Glasgow headquarters.
It included several copies of a poster in which the Palestinian flag is imposed over the entirety of a map of the Israeli state, surrounded by two hands snapping a chain encircling the country, alongside the slogan “Free Palestine”.
The Scottish Council of Jewish Communities (SCOJEC) said images of a single Palestinian state in Israel’s territory amounted to a call for “the annihilation of Israel and the Jewish people” and were therefore anti-semitic.
The Telegraph understands that the posters labelled anti-semitic, which feature the Palestinian flag over an outline of Israel, were removed from the window on Monday after Mr Yousaf ’s officials were approached for comment. Palestinian flags and “Free Palestine” posters which do not include the offensive imagery have remained in place.
Asked about the window display, SCOJEC said images of the type displayed at the firm “cause a great deal of distress” to Jews, with many still mourning those murdered by Hamas.
“It is, of course, entirely in order to express support and sympathy for all civilians caught up in the war, which followed the atrocities perpetrated by Hamas and associated terrorists in southern Israel on Oct 7,” the SCOJEC spokesman said.
“However, chants of ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free’ along with posters, flags and social media posts which depict a single Palestinian state in all of the area ‘from the River [Jordan] to the [Mediterranean] Sea’ are a call for the annihilation of Israel and of the Jewish people, since Israel does not exist outwith that area, and are therefore anti-semitic.”
Muzaffar Yousaf, 69, still has “active involvement” in the Yousaf & Co accountancy, according to its website, while the First Minister’s mother, Shaaista Yousaf, 67, is listed as the company secretary. A week after the Hamas attacks, both were pictured at a pro-palestinian rally in Glasgow, condemning Israel’s response.
Five separate copies of the “anti-semitic” poster were on show in the windows of the Yousaf & Co business, which the First Minister is not involved in running, alongside two large Palestinian flags and other images. A resident said that the display had been up since at least November. Mr Yousaf has publicly backed a two-state solution, though the posters in his parents’ firm allegedly imply that a “Free Palestine” would mean that what is currently Israel would become an entirely non-jewish country.
The Gaza health ministry, which is run by Hamas, has said that more than 31,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military operation in response to the atrocities.
Annie Wells, the Scottish Conservative Glasgow MSP, said: “Given the knock-on effects for communities across Glasgow as a result of events in the Middle East, high-profile businesses like this one must be mindful to act responsibly. The displaying of this poster in their front window could potentially alienate certain communities and the owners should reflect carefully on that.”
In the wake of the Hamas attacks, Mr Yousaf ’s parents-in-law, Elizabeth and Maged El-nakla, became trapped in Gaza after a family visit coincided with the outbreak of war. They were eventually allowed to leave after almost a month trapped in the territory. Mr Yousaf ’s wife, Nadia, has accused Israel of committing “genocide” in Gaza.
While condemning the scale of Israel’s response to the Hamas attacks, Mr Yousaf has also made a point of expressing sympathy for the victims of Hamas and condemning anti-semitism.
The First Minister denied this month that he had a conflict of interest when he personally directed that £250,000 of public cash should be sent to the UNRWA agency while his parents-inlaw were still trapped in Gaza.
Asked about the window display, an SNP spokesman said: “The First Minister has been unequivocal in his calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire by all sides in the conflict in Gaza and a long-term peace based on the two-state solution of an independent Palestine alongside a safe and secure state of Israel.” Yousaf & Co did not respond to requests for comment.