Renowned atheist Professor Richard Dawkins received a surprise standing ovation in the traditionally Christian community of Stornoway last night, following a two-hour speech in which he said there was probably no God.
The 71-year-old described Islam as “one of the great evils of the world” in his lecture, The God Delusion, as part of a rare visit to the Western Isles.
The former principal of an Islamic college in Dundee has lost his claim he was unfairly dismissed for being a white Christian.
Professor Malory Nye had insisted he was forced out of his £67,000-a-year post at the Al Maktoum College because of his race and religion.
The institution offers post-graduate courses in Arab and Muslim studies and Mr Nye claimed senior figures wanted a Muslim in charge.
His wife Isobel Campbell-Nye, who was head of the English department, has also lost her unfair dismissal case.
The Scottish Defence League (SDL) held a static protest outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, while Unite Against Fascism organised its own counter-protest. Police said that around 60 people attended the SDL event, which lasted for around 45 minutes. The majority arrived by coach.
Meanwhile Unite Against Fascism said its march from the City Chambers on the Royal Mile to the Parliament attracted over 300 people. Police put the figure at around 250.
‘We have nothing to do with Nazi-ism’ – SDL supporters on a demonstration
Far right extremist group the Scottish Defence League has been banned from a proposed march amid claims an attempt had been made to recruit football casuals.
Edinburgh City Council’s licensing sub-committee ruled that the demonstration – set to be attended by around 150 people – should not go ahead. A spokesman for the SDL has vowed to appeal the decision in court, saying it could not control what was posted on its Facebook site.
The humiliation of the English Defence League in Walthamstow has attracted most of the attention, but another flop for “counterjihad movement” took place in Dundee on Saturday, where the EDL’s sister organisation the Scottish Defence League staged a protest, primarily against a so-called “mega mosque” on the Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education campus, construction of which is due to start this month, providing 70 jobs for local people.
The SDL has a very low level of support in Scotland itself, and as Dundee trades council secretary Mike Arnott noted in a report for the Morning Star: “To enhance its minuscule numbers at demonstrations in Scotland the SDL also invites its unsavoury allies from the north of England along – the EDL and the North East and North West Infidels, whose reputations for thuggery are well known.”
Graham Walker, regional organiser and spokesman for the Scottish Defence League (SDL), said supporters from a string of far-right groups including the North West Infidels (NWI), the English Defence League (EDL) and the Combined Ex-Forces (CXF) will be bussed to the city to take part in a static demonstration on Saturday, September 1.
The news comes less than a week after the city council’s licensing committee rejected police recommendations to allow the controversial protest in City Square. Instead councillors gave the green light to a counter-rally, led by Dundee Trades Union Council, named Dundee Together, which will celebrate the city’s multi-cultural background.
Dundee City Square could be turned into a scene of conflict if members of a far-right group are allowed to demonstrate there.
That was the claim made on Thursday during the city council’s licensing committee as councillors considered a request by Dundee Trades Union Council, on behalf of Dundee Together, to allow their demonstration against racism and fascism to go ahead on September 1.
On the same day, around 150 members of the Scottish Defence League (SDL) are expected to gather in the city despite having been refused permission to hold a static demonstration in City Square earlier this year. The right-wing group is using the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to exercise its freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.
Police are investigating allegations that officers allowed an extreme right wing racist group to protest illegally in Glasgow city centre after it hijacked an organised demonstration backing asylum seekers.
Green MSP Patrick Harvie raised the issue with Alex Salmond, branding the Scottish Defence League (SDL) “obnoxious and disgusting”.
Mr Harvie said the allegations centred on a council-approved protest by the Campaign to Welcome Refugees in George Square. He said the SDL disrupted the event, leading to police telling organisers it had to end early for public order reasons.
Mr Harvie said the SDL was then permitted by police to hold a short demonstration in the square despite having no prior official permission and then marched down Buchanan Street before leaving the city centre.
A Muslim MSP has hit out at yobs who hurled racist abuse at him – and then reported HIM to cops.
Humza Yousaf was targeted by far-right activists as he joined some of Glasgow’s top officers on a police tour of the city. The Scots-born politician was told to “go back home” and branded an “Islamic fascist” at a demo by the British Nationalist Party and the Scottish Defence League. But incredibly it was Mr Yousaf who was reported to cops – for wearing a police jacket.
The SNP man said: “I was on a tour with officers, including the assistant chief constable, to see how the Orange parade is policed. In order for us to be recognisable to the police they issued us with high-visibility jackets. But when we came across the BNP and SDL things turned nasty. The aggressive reaction shows the level of hatred these fascists have for anyone who looks different.”
Strathclyde Police confirmed they had received a complaint accusing Mr Yousaf of impersonating a police officer. A spokeswoman added: “The demo was closed down under public order legislation.”
Photo: Edinburgh Eye