Question reference: S6W-11193
- Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, MSP for Lothian, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 29 September 2022
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Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 14 October 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the inter-community violence in Leicester in September 2022, whether its upcoming hate crime strategy will be alert to any potential use of social media in transmitting hatred across borders.
Answer
The Scottish Government unequivocally condemns any form of hatred or prejudice, and is clear that people of all faiths and none must be supported to follow their way of life, without fear or discrimination.
I established the Hate Crime Strategic Partnership Group to provide collective cross-sectoral strategic leadership in the development of a new strategy, which will set out our priorities for tackling hatred and prejudice in Scotland. Importantly, it will be informed by communities with lived experience of hate crime, including religiously motivated hate crime. We are aware of the harmful impact online hatred can have on individuals and communities and this will be considered as the strategy is developed.
Furthermore, we are committed to tackling prejudice and building resilient communities within which divisive messages will not resonate, including continuing to support the important interfaith engagement work that takes place across Scotland.