DAWN.COM

Today's Paper | December 22, 2024

Updated 14 May, 2016 08:06pm

Wearing a kilt, Muslim Scottish MP takes oath in Urdu

GLASGOW: The video of a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) taking oath went viral on Friday.

Humza Yousaf, MSP for Glasgow Pollok from the Scottish National Party (SNP), first took the oath of allegiance in English and then in Urdu, as other members gave their oath in Doric, Gaelic and Scots as well as English.

Watch the video below:

Yousaf proudly paid homage to his roots with his outfit as well as his language, pairing a traditional Scottish kilt with a sherwani jacket.

Yousaf marked the occasion with family, who attended the ceremony.

As the video went viral, though, Yousuf also received a storm of Islamophobia and racial slurs on social media.

Which he handled with good humour.

And pointed out the selective bigotry

Members may give an oath or affirmation, a version of the oath without religious reference, in English as well as other languages.

According to the oath, members "swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, so help me God".

On the other hand, the affirmation has members "solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth".

The SNP, which is centre left and social democratic, is Scotland's largest political party and currently in power.

Read Comments

Shocking US claim on reach of Pakistani missiles Next Story