MSPs debate face coverings amid calls for ban after Glasgow protest

MSPs are debating the use of face coverings in Scotland, following a protest in Glasgow which led to the assault of a police officer.

Reform is calling for a total ban on face coverings, including balaclavas, niqabs and burqas, citing public safety and community cohesion.

However, opponents have said the discussion on face coverings is a “smoke screen”, taking the focus off groups of men causing disorder, and onto Muslim women.

The members’ debate comes after protesters took to the streets of Glasgow’s East End on Wednesday evening, during which a police officer was attacked.

Glasgow & West

Man charged after police officer assaulted during protest in Glasgow

Police confirmed a 32-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with a police assault in the Westmuir Street area

A 32-year-old man was arrested and charged in connection with the incident.

During Wednesday night’s protest, footage posted on social media showed some protesters dressed in black and wearing masks, chanting “our streets” and “send them home”.

Ahead of the debate, First Minister John Swinney blasted Reform for bringing forward the motion, saying the party had “brought racism” into Holyrood.

He said: “I have served in this Parliament since 1999, I have answered questions in here for many years from this podium.

“Not once have I been asked to ban the burka or to divide communities in our country, but I have been invited to do since May, when that lot (Reform) came into this Parliament.”

‘Face coverings make me uncomfortable’

Ahead of the members’ debate, MSP Thomas Kerr told STV News that face coverings were “intimidating”.

“Reform has been very clear on this, we dont want double standards, we want a ban on face coverings in public places for all, whether that be a balaclava or a burka and that’s what we’re calling for in the motion today,” he said.

“There’s an issue firstly on public safety, so we have seen this debate over the summer in particular, of men walking about with balaclavas on, but also the security implications of people wearing face coverings entirely.

“Face coverings make me uncomfortable, why someone feels the need to cover up their face to me makes me feel uncomfortable.”

Protesters were ‘cowards in ski masks’

SNP MSP David Linden, who represents constituents in the East End of Glasgow, blasted the “mob of men in ski-masks” who took part in the unrest on Wednesday night.

He said he has previously raised concerns over face coverings with Police Scotland and the cabinet secretary for justice and is aware issues with ski masks “are a real problem”.

However, he said Holyrood should focus on those causing disruption, rather than religious coverings worn by women from minority groups.

“When you look at the footage last night from those distressing scenes in Shettleston and Parkhead, the issue there was not the minority of Muslim women; the issue was grown adult men wearing ski masks,” he told STV News.

He continued: “I find it very odd that there are male politicians who are obsessing over what a small minority of what women wear, I find that deeply alarming, but I am not going to be indulging in the smokescreen that we’re seeing here, because the very serious issues that we saw last night on the streets of Glasgow eminate from men who should know better, parading around like cowards wearing ski masks.

“That’s the real issue this Parliament should be focusing on.”

There will be no vote on whether face coverings will be banned as the discussion was a members’ debate.