Nicola Sturgeon among 200 to sign open letter against far right
More than 200 women and organisations are calling for an end to 'lies' about the safety of women and girls
Hundreds of women and organisations have signed an open letter seeking to "reject the far right's racist lies about 'protecting' women and girls".
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon and the wife of former first minister Humza Yousaf are among those who are backing the letter, which insist that the far right is not "defenders of women".
It has been supported by 200 women and organisations, with other signatories including actress and comedian Elaine C Smith, authors Val McDermid and Denise Mina, and musician and actor Clare Grogan.
MSPs and councillors have also put their names to it, along with musician Iona Fyfe and leading trade union figures, including Andrea Bradley, the general secretary of the EIS teaching union, and Roz Foyer, the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Council.
"Violence against women and girls is an epidemic"
The open letter from the group Women Against the Far Right Scotland has been made public ahead of a launch event in Glasgow on October 7, where some of those who have signed will speak.
It comes amid growing concerns over immigration, with protests having taken place outside hotels used to house migrants.
Campaigner Talat Yaqoob told Tay FM: “Violence against women and girls is an epidemic in society, it’s men’s violence against women and girls, and that doesn’t come from any one race, it doesn’t come from any one culture.
“We need to be fighting misogyny and sexism, and this is certainly not the way to do it.”
The Pass the Mic founder continued: “From politicians and from media we need responsible rhetoric, we need evidence-based rhetoric that very clearly says that targeting asylum seekers is unacceptable and it’s unevidenced.
"Not in our name"
“We need that said clearly an unapologetically by everybody with a platform.”
Speaking about protesters at recent demonstrations outside hotels housing asylum seekers, she added: “If they want to talk about legitimate concerns then yes, talk about violence against women and girls, but understand that it is across society, and it’s on all of us to take responsibility for that.
“Talk about poverty, talk about the housing crisis, none of this is caused by asylum seekers specifically, none of this is caused by immigrants specifically, and what we’re doing is pretending that these are legitimate concerns to legitimise the spread of division and racism.
“We at Women Against the Far Right in Scotland are very clearly saying ‘not in our name’.”
The organisation is calling for unity, and justice for all women.
"The far right do not protect women"
Another signatory, Cat Murphy, the executive director at feminist organisation Engender, said: "We know from history that false claims of 'protecting women and girls' have been used to terrorise and oppress people of colour and other marginalised groups.
"As feminists that work every day to support communities across Scotland, we need to push back against these damaging lies and distortion with everything we've got."
Amina, the Muslim Women's Resource Centre, is one of the organisations to have backed the letter, with its chief executive Mariam Ahmed saying: "At Amina, we know that racism, misogyny and violence are interconnected forms of oppression that harm women and communities.
"The far right do not protect women, they exploit fear and division to push their own agenda.
"We stand in solidarity with survivors, with refugees and migrants, and with all women and girls.
"Scotland must reject racism and unite to demand real action to end violence against women."
The campaign’s first meeting will be held in Glasgow on October 7, with the event being open to anyone.