Humza Yousaf and family to press ahead with legal action against nursery
Lawyers representing The Health Secretary and his wife Nadia El Nakla confirmed they will pursue legal action against Little Scholars Day Nursery in Broughty Ferry
Last updated 24th Aug 2021
The Health Secretary and his wife will press ahead with legal action against a Broughty Ferry nursery. It's after Humza yousaf and Nadia El Nakla claimed their 2 year-old daughter was discriminated against by the Little Scholars Day Nursery after being refused a place.
Lawyers for the family have given the nursery 14 days to respond to the allegations with a public apology and a donation to an anti racism charity threatening legal action if they did not.
But the nursery says it has provided a detailed response and refutes the claims.
A spokesperson for Little Scholars Day Nursery said: “A full and detailed response to the allegations made by Humza Yousaf and Nadia El-Nakla has now been provided to his legal representatives. We abhor discrimination in all its forms and it is not and would not be tolerated at the nursery.
“We continue to refute the claims made by Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla in the strongest possible terms and take pride in our position as an inclusive nursery that is open and welcoming to all.”
ICYMI: Humza Yousaf wants apology and charity payment after daughter was denied enrollment
Aamer Anwar is the lawyer representing the family, he said: "On Monday 9th August 2021, a claim was intimated on the Little Scholars Day Nursery, Broughty Ferry, Dundee for a breach of the Equality Act 2010, in respect of alleged discrimination suffered by Nadia El-Nakla and her daughter Amal Yousaf.
"We received a response from those acting for the nursery on Monday 23rd August 2021.
"This response refutes that there has been any discriminatory behaviour, but fails to provide a reasoned explanation, as to why there were repeated refusals to accommodate children with Muslim/ minority ethnic names, whilst at the same time children with white/Scottish names were offered nursery places.
"This is all despite the fact that other bodies including the Care Inspectorate and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have expressed an interest in this case.
Under the circumstances Nadia El-Nakla has no option, but to proceed with court action against the Nursery.”