Following the horrific antisemitic terrorist attacks on Jewish targets in Europe, the 10-fold increase in antisemitic incidents in Scotland in the second half of last year, and the raising of the national terrorist threat level, all of which have contributed to unprecedented levels of anxiety and vulnerability in the Jewish community, the leaders of all the political parties in the Scottish Parliament, supported by other leading figures in Scottish public life, have taken the rare step of coming together to issue a joint statement of support and reassurance for the Jewish Community:
“As political leaders in Scotland, we join together to express sadness and concern about the recent antisemitic terrorist murders in Paris and Copenhagen, the rise in antisemitism across Europe that has been highlighted by several recent reports, and the raising of the security threat level in the UK. We celebrate Scotland's traditionally positive relationship with its Jewish population but understand why events elsewhere can undermine their sense of security, belonging, and well-being, and come together unreservedly to condemn all manifestations of antisemitism in Scotland and to assert Scotland's warm desire that Jewish people living in Scotland should feel safe, completely at home, and a key part of the multicultural Scottish community.”
The Jewish Community welcomes this clear message to all parts of Scottish society along with the excellent work being done by the Police to ensure the physical safety of the community and by the Procurator Fiscal service to bring the perpetrators of antisemitic hate crime to justice.
The statement was signed by
Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister and Leader of the SNP
Jim Murphy MP, Leader of Scottish Labour
Ruth Davidson MSP, Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party
Willie Rennie MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Partick Harvie MSP, Joint Leader of the Scottish Green Party
Kezia Dugdale MSP, Leader of the Scottish Parliamentary Labour Group
and supported by
Alistair Carmichael MP, Secretary of State for Scotland
Margaret Curran MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
Angus Robertson MP, Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons
The Scottish Trades Union Congress
The Church of Scotland
The Roman Catholic Bishops Conference
The Muslim Council of Scotland