An MP from the Alba Party of the Scottish Parliament has presented the first proposal in the Parliament to deal with the atmosphere of hatred against Hindus. The resolution, based on a report titled ‘Hinduphobia in Scotland’, details prejudice, discrimination and attempts to marginalise Hindus.
MP Ash Regan introduced the motion, citing the bitter experiences of 16,000 members of the Scottish Hindu community. The resolution also acknowledges the importance of their research, advocacy and public engagement in raising awareness and promoting interfaith dialogue, social cohesion and mutual respect across Scotland’s diverse communities.
The report also included data from first-hand experiences of Hinduphobia, including the vandalisation of a Dundee temple with hate-filled graffiti in 2021 and an attack by masked men with stones and bricks on the home of a Hindu family in Glasgow.
In Edinburgh a Hindu nurse was refused promotion because of her religion and was asked to remove her bindi and bangles, and in Glasgow a Hindu teacher was accused of being a terrorist. The report also provides examples of anti-Hindu terms used in Scotland, such as ‘cow urine drinker’ and ‘devil worshipper’.