Anti-racist accused of racism ‘framed by Far-Right’

AN anti-racism campaigner who has appeared in court charged with racial abuse claims he was targeted by a far-Right group after waving his passport at them.

Shafiq Mohammed, 50, is alleged to have called a group of bystanders ‘white b ****** s’ at an antirefugee demo last year.

Mohammed, of Glasgow, denies the offence.

The demonstration on November 15 last year was organised by the Scottish Defence League (SDL) to oppose Syrian refugees staying at a nearby hotel.

Mohammed told Ayr Sheriff Court earlier this week that he had approached rival protesters.

He said: ‘I felt I had to show my support for the refugees.

‘I wanted to make a point to these people that I am British. I took my passport. Taking into account the average intellect of an SDL member I thought a visual aid was appropriate.’

He added: ‘I offended them by being British, so they concocted this fabrication as revenge.’

Mohammed admitted calling

‘Offended them by being British’

some of the rival protesters ‘fascist b ****** s and Nazi scum’ but denied saying a racist insult.

Mohammed also claimed that he was spat at and racially abused, but officers did nothing.

He said when he was approached by a police officer he had no idea he was bring arrested. ‘I assumed it was in relation to me being spat at and called a ‘black ******* ’, Mohammed said.

The court also heard from Crown witness Gilbert Stewart McIlwrick, 59, from Ayr.

Mr McIlwrick claimed he had been in the area planespotting. He denied being an SDL member.

He said: ‘A gentleman broke through the police cordon and was calling us all ‘white b ****** s’.

In court Mr McIlwrick identified Mohammed as the gentleman.

When Mr McIlwrick was told the plane he said he wanted to see was already at Prestwick when he arrived at nearby Monkton, he said: ‘I didn’t know that. If I did I wouldn’t have been there.’

Sheriff Robert Weir adjourned the case to consider a ruling.