MSP slams own father’s post
Renfrewshire politician Tom Arthur has spoken out to condemn a social media post by his own dad which equated Zionism with Nazism.
The SNP MSP denounced his father ,Tom Arthur Snr, who posted on his Facebook account an image of a Nazi swastika within a Star of David and the caption“Nazism = Zionism”.
Tom Arthur Snr has resigned from the SNP over the post.
His Facebook account appears to have since been deactivated.
His MSP son, the representative for Renfrewshire South said:“As an SNP MSP, I stand against discrimination of any kind.
“The online post shared by a family member falls far short of that position and I condemn the views expressed.
“Six months on from Hamas’s barbaric terrorist attack which claimed the lives of more than 1,000 innocent civilians, I will continue to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages and for a permanent two state solution to pave the way towards peace.”
Zionism is a movement that sought the establishment of a Jewish nation in the land of Palestine, where Israel is today.
Mr Arthur Snr’s comments come amidst the war in Gaza in which Israel has been accused of war crimes and genocide of the Palestinian people – a claim Israel denies.
More than 34,000 people have been killed in the territory since October 7 when Hamas killed around 1,200 Israeli’s and took more than 200 hostages.
The flag of the State of Israel was used as the flag of the Zionist movement before the establishment of the State of Israel.
Tom Arthur Snr’s Facebook post was reportedly made on Monday last week, which is the same day that the Scottish Government’s new hate crime law came into place.
The law created new offences of“stirring up”hatred - which previously applied only to race by extending it to protected characteristics such as disability, race, religion and sexual orientation.
Police Scotland confirmed the post is not being investigated under the Hate Crime Act.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said:“We received a complaint which is being investigated as a communications offence.”