'Kenny MacAskill agrees to public meeting in Glasgow to hear communities' concerns'

Glasgow SNP MSP, Humza Yousaf, has joined in calls for a review of Schedule 7 security stops carried out at airports across the UK.

Under the provisions of Schedule 7 anyone entering the UK can be held by police or border officials for up to 9 hours without arrest or charge. Rights to remain silent or to free legal representation are also excluded from Schedule 7 rules leading campaigners to brand them draconian and discriminatory.

Humza Yousaf has signed a joint letter to the Home Secretary from StopWatch calling for a review of Schedule 7.  Other signatories include prominent academics, solicitors and campaigners who believe that the provisions contained in Schedule 7 may be unlawful. 
 
Commenting Mr Yousaf said: "There is no doubt that there is a real danger of extremism here in the UK, to which Scotland is not immune. However, any terrorism expert will tell you that a sense of grievance or resentment may well be a contributing factor to an individual becoming radicalised. 
 
"The frequency with which people are stopped at Glasgows airports and the nature of some of the questioning, for example people being asked how many times a day they pray, are all adding to the sense of resentment felt by particular communities towards the authorities.

"The Muslim community in particular has always enjoyed a good relationship with the Police. However, there is no doubt in my mind that this is being severely undermined by the arbitrary use of Schedule 7 powers.
 
"There are fundamental human rights issues at play; it seems only right that the Home Secretary should take the opportunity to review this legislation and I will be writing to her in this regard.

"I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, has agreed to attend a public meeting next week to listen to the concerns of members of the public on this issue."

Prominent Glasgow-based human rights lawyer Aamer Anwar also added his voice to the campaign: "Internment was the greatest recruiting sergeant the IRA ever had. Schedule 7 stops are in danger of being ammunition for extremists if we continue to restrict the civil liberties of particular communities. A review of these powers should be carried out immediately."
 
Notes:

1. The public meeting with Kenny MacAskill, Senior Police Chiefs and Human Rights lawyer Aamer Anwar will be held on the 12th July  at 6.30pm in Glasgows Polloksheilds Burgh Hall. If you are interested in attending please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

2. More info on Schedule 7 and the concerns surrounding it can be found on the StopWatch website: http://www.stop-watch.org