Scottish Tories argue the new legislation will be 'unworkable' and 'dangerous'. But the first minister has hit back at its critics.
Scotland's first minister has said 'disinformation' is being spread about controversial hate crime legislation due to come into force in April. The Hate Crime and Public Order Act was passed by MSPs in 2021, creating a new offence of stirring up hatred based on protected characteristics - matching a similar offence for race which is already on the statute book.
' Mr Yousaf said similar laws were 'nothing new in Scotland', adding: 'If I have the protection against somebody stirring up hatred because of my race - and that has been the case since 1986 - why on earth should these protections not exist for someone because of their sexuality, or disability, or their religion?' The first minister added there was a 'very high threshold' to be met for prosecution.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Emma Caldwell's mother to meet First Minister Humza YousafMargaret Caldwell is calling for an inquiry after it emerged police missed the chance to catch her daughter's killer.
Read more »
Humza Yousaf: Scottish first minister denies conflict of interest over £250K Gaza donationHumza Yousaf's relatives were evacuated the day after he met officials from UNRWA, and he denies ignoring officials' advice to give up to £200,000 to UNICEF instead. At the time, more than a million Palestinians in Gaza faced displacement amid the escalating conflict.
Read more »
Ross targets pro-union voters to pressure Humza YousafThe Scottish Tory leader takes aim at the first minister's track record at his party conference.
Read more »
Humza Yousaf has a massive job to bridge the gap between rhetoric and realityHumza Yousaf faces tough task in bridging the 'gap between rhetoric and reality,' says Record View.
Read more »
Humza Yousaf says critics are Islamophobic after claims he over-rode officials' advice to give...Tearful Hamza Yousaf´s mother-in-law asks Where is humanity? as 'hospital cannot be evacuated' in Gaza. In sad vid shared by Humza Yousaf her mother-in-law can be seen crying saying 'One million' people in Gaza are left with 'No food and no water'.
Read more »
Humza Yousaf and Stephen Flynn are 'to the right' of the Tories on oil taxIn his Daily Record column, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar accuses the SNP of defending the 'obscene profits' made by oil and gas multinationals from soaring energy bills
Read more »