Sarwar tells of being racially abused while filming TV interview on racism
A prominent Scottish Labour MSP has described being racially abused while filming a television interview in Glasgow.
Anas Sarwar, the party’s spokesman for health, was discussing Islamophobia with a journalist from Sky TV’S Asianchannelswhentwomen cycled past, with one shouting ‘P**i b ***** d’ as he went.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening outside the Crowne Plaza hotel next to the River Clyde, directly across from BBC Scotland’s waterfront headquarters.
The MSP, who has been a vocal campaigner against racism in Scotland, shared his disgust at the incident on social media.
He tweeted: “Just had someone shout “P**i b ***** d” in my face whilst doing an interview on (ironically) racism and Islamophobia. Not experienced such blatant in your face racism like that in years. What’s going on in the world?”
Mr Sarwar yesterday made a formal complaint to Police Scotland over the matter.
Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “I am so sorry to hear this Anas. On behalf of the entire party I want to express our solidarity with you. We must never cease the fight against racism.”
Humza Yousaf, the Scot- tish Government’s justice secretary, said: “Very sorry to hear this Anas - an important reminder for anyone who thinks racism/islamaphobia only exists on social media.
“Look forward to meeting colleagues across the political divide as we take forward vital plans to further tackle Hate Crime.”
The Glasgow list MSP was previously forced to contact police in February after he was sent a threatening email which included a propaganda video from far-right extremists.
It came after Mr Sarwar spoke out about his experience of racism and Islamophobia while he was a candidate for the Scottish Labour leadership in 2017, a job that ultimately went to Mr Leonard.
Mr Sarwar said he would not be deterred from campaigning against racism and Islamaphobia.
Writing in The Scotsman at the time, he said: “The reality is that Scotland is an open and diverse country, but we should not allow our national pride to blind us to the fact that good and bad people live everywhere.
“Now I believe the majority of people see past a person’s colour and religion, but we must accept that, like everyday sexism and homophobia, everyday racism, anti-semitism and Islamophobia exist. This impacts on workplaces, university and college campuses and playgrounds across the country.”
He continued: “While the public focus will continue to be on confronting those who have consciously prejudiced views and ensuring that they aren’t given a platform or allowed to flourish, the harder task is actually making an unconscious bias conscious, so that people can challenge themselves.”
Mr Sarwar is the son of Mohammad Sarwar, who in 1997 became the first Muslim MP in the United Kingdom and the first Asian MP elected to represent a Scottish constituency when he won the Govan seat for Labour.