Sir, – I do not know Dumfries and Galloway councillor Jim Dempster.
However, from all reasonable accounts he appears to be a well respected and diligent member of the local authority.
He made the much reported remark about a ‘burka’ not with any intent to incite hatred or contempt for any minority group.
Rather he was attempting make a political point.
He was trying to express that, in his opinion Humza Yousaf as transport minister did not show enough interest in the problems of south west Scotland.
Councillor Dempsey has made a full apology.
Furthermore, he has agreed to undertake diversity training.
He has also taken action as part of attempts to build bridges with the local Muslim community.
All these actions have been contemptuously rejected by Mr Yousaf.
In my view the latter has behaved in a manner more appropriate to a vindictive Witchfinder General than a responsible government minister.
Genuine examples of racial or religious prejudice should be strenuously opposed.
However, Councillor Dempster is being unfairly victimised for a single unguarded word.
Now vague accusations from 30 years ago have been dragged up in what looks like a personal vendetta.
Mr Yousaf might find it more productive to spend his time solving Scotland’s multitude of transport problems.
He would also do well to reflect on the fact that the worst example of ‘Islamophobia’ in Scotland was the murder of a Muslim shopkeeper by another Muslim because he was the wrong kind of Muslim.
Robert Cairns.
Eastergate Cottage,
Harrietfield,
Perth.
Fishing for a better deal
Sir, – I was interested to read the views of Derek Farmer in Wednesday’s Courier (Hypocrisy at fishing deal, Courier letters, March 21).
I realise that he is not a supporter of the First Minister, a view which he is entitled to hold.
However, the attempt to deflect the current ‘bad-press’ that his party’s government in Westminster is justifiably now receiving, on to the Scottish Parliament is laughable.
I would remind the gentleman that the Scottish Parliament (both Labour and latterly SNP) have wanted to have full access to Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) discussions, something which the Scottish Government has been denied by Westminster.
Mr Farmer states that it has always been the SNPs policy to retain the status quo. This is not true.
To quote from the SNP’s open all policy page: ‘We will continue to demand the scrapping or fundamental reform of the CFP and Scottish control of fisheries – and oppose any attempt to treat the fishing industry as a Brexit bargaining chip’.
This situation is entirely the responsibility of the Westminster Parliament, and not even 12 Tory MPs voted in by the Scottish Fishing communities can change the Westminster Government’s policy and direction on this.
They may get some additional ‘fish’ thrown to them, like revamping the Scottish Fishing Fleet, but more than likely that could end in a similar state as the 13 Type 23 Destroyers that were promised for the Clyde.
Alistair Ballantyne.
10 Hillpark Drive,
Birkhill.
Free speech being eroded
Sir, -What if I told you that someone has been convicted in a court of law for a joke?
Would you assume this to have taken place on foreign shores? Perhaps China or Iran?
I’m afraid not.
Glasgow Sheriff Court has found a man called Markus Meechan guilty of being ‘grossly offensive’.
The crime? Uploading a video to YouTube of himself annoying his girlfriend by teaching her pet dog, a pug called Buddha, to give the Hitler salute.
I am not asking for you to find the joke funny or clever – other people like John Cleese and Mel Brooks have ridiculed the Third Reich so much better.
What I am asking is for this conviction to be seen for what it is – a massive and alarming overstep by the authorities that is antithetical to a liberal democracy.
This is an attack on freedom of speech and the rights of the individual.
In fact, it goes to the heart of what we need to value as a nation.
The right to speak our minds without state interference is crucial and requires more protection.
This ruling is a source of national embarrassment and represents a danger to the country’s citizens.
Mr Meechan is to be sentenced on April 23 on the back of shoddy and vague legislation that needs to be torn up.
I urge people to write to their local MP voicing their opposition to this injustice.
The right to free speech and the unrealistic expectation to never be offended can not coexist.
Gordon Brown.
2 West Dunkenny Cottages,
Eassie,
Forfar.
Nothing more than a bad joke
Sir, – Scottish Youtuber Count Dankula has been found guilty of offensive communication and awaits sentencing.
He may yet go to prison for filming his dog acting as a Nazi – obviously as a joke.
Anyone actually intending to promote Nazi ideology might be advised that mocking Nazism with a pet is counter-productive.
Ridiculing evil can be a powerful antidote.
When he brought the phrase ‘gas the Jews’ into the joke he overstepped the mark, as the holocaust does not have a funny side.
But – however insensitive or offensive that is – there was no incitement to break the law, nor even any attempt to stir up hatred.
It was an ill-judged attempt at humour.
If anyone can produce evidence that Count Dankula actually intends harm towards Jewish people, then prosecute him on that basis.
No one can produce such evidence.
Making a sick, offensive or insensitive joke should not be a criminal offence.
Once freedom of speech can be curtailed by subjective judgments such as ‘offence’, the door is open to the suppression of views that those in power would rather not hear.
This legal action has propelled Count Dankula from Coatbridge obscurity to international fame.
His ordeal will have been stressful, but, in a few months’ time he might look at the whole incident as a personal breakthrough.
It is worth remembering that creating martyrs has a dubious record when it comes to suppressing undesired speech.
While the internet buzzes with the Count Dankula drama, MSPs ignore it, and the gulf between popular opinion and mainstream politics widens.
Richard Lucas.
Leader of the Scottish Family Party,
272 Bath Street,
Glasgow.
No end in sight to road woes
Sir, – Police Scotland statistics show that there has been a drop in deaths and serious injuries on Fife roads in the past year.
However, before we all pat ourselves on the back let’s think a bit more about this.
There is no doubt speed has been a major factor in most tragic road accidents.
However, of late – because of the shocking state of many road surfaces – drivers are driving more slowly than they once did, as they keep a wary eye out for the next pothole they’re going to hit.
My on-board car computer tells me that while my average speed in 2016 was 33mph, it is now only 27mph.
On January 17 this year I alerted Fife Council to an exceedingly pot-holed area near Ladybank but I got no reply to my letter.
Last week that same area cost me a new tyre for its sidewall blew out completely and an area of rubber the size of a chocolate box just disappeared instantly.
I also suggest that readers keep a watchful eye on road surfaces in areas around traffic-calming systems because the reduced road width at such points is being forced to carry twice the volume of traffic.
No wonder the tarmac starts to break up there.
If the local council leaves the roads in their currently shocking condition, then road deaths may well remain low as driver speed goes down – but it is worth bearing in mind that the cost of repairs to vehicle suspensions and tyres will likely continue to rise.
Archibald A Lawrie. 5 Church Wynd, Kingskettle.