UNISON City of Edinburgh unequivocally condemns the vile and vicious attacks carried out against members of the Muslim community on Friday night.
These were not random acts. They were acts of hatred. They were acts designed to spread fear, intimidate our neighbours, and tell Muslim people that they do not belong. We reject that message completely.
To every Muslim member of our community, we say this clearly: you are welcome here, you belong here, and we stand shoulder to shoulder with you.
We must also be honest about the climate in which such attacks occur. Hate does not emerge from nowhere. It is fuelled by years of scapegoating, dog-whistle politics, and the deliberate targeting of migrants, refugees, and Muslim communities by those seeking political gain.
Figures such as Nigel Farage have spent years promoting narratives that divide communities and encourage suspicion, resentment, and hostility towards minorities. While individuals alone are responsible for committing violent acts, political leaders must also take responsibility for the consequences of rhetoric that normalises prejudice and gives confidence to those who wish to spread hate.
When politicians seek to pit working people against one another, our response must be solidarity. When racism and Islamophobia raise their heads, our response must be collective action. When communities are attacked, our response must be resistance.
UNISON was founded on the principle that an injury to one is an injury to all. An attack on the Muslim community is an attack on all of us. We will not remain silent. We will not look the other way. We will challenge racism wherever it appears—in our workplaces, in our politics, and on our streets.
Today we stand united against Islamophobia, united against racism, and united against those who seek to divide our city.
Our message is simple: hate has no home in Edinburgh. Solidarity does.
Mark Laidlaw
Equalities Officer