Vile online racist abuse faced by Humza Yousaf on daily basis exposed

The vile racist abuse which Humza Yousaf said he had to defy to become first minister is today exposed by the Sunday Mail.

The SNP politician is relentlessly told to “go home” and referred to in offensive terms like “P**i” and “brown boy”.

And an analysis of social media posts on X shows the level of hate increased in the days before and after his resignation last week.

Some of the posts had been viewed nearly half a million times according to tools which check the impact of posts on X.

Campaigners yesterday called for the bosses of online sites to do more to stop racist posts being allowed on their platforms.

In his final address as first minister last week, 39-year-old Yousaf said he had carried out his work despite the racism he’d faced throughout his life and political career.

And he teared up as he recalled racism he experienced as a child growing up in Scotland and being told at age six to go home.

Glasgow born Yousaf, who is the son of Pakistani parents and who studied politics at the University of Glasgow, said the racist slur “go home” had hurt him because he said he has no other home and never will.

Last night, Yousaf told the Sunday Mail: “Throughout my time in politics I have been subjected to a barrage of racist and Islamaphobic abuse over the years on an almost daily basis, unfortunately, in recent weeks my family has also been targeted.

“While this is personally deeply upsetting, I also worry about our ability to encourage more diversity in public life if being a racial minority in politics means you will automatically become a target for racists and bigots.

“It is clear that social media platforms simply do not take their responsibility to safeguard people from hatred and vile abuse seriously enough. This is particularly true of X, which may not be surprising given its owner, Elon Musk, has given support and a platform to those who peddle far-right conspiracies.”

While most Scots and politicians offered their support, the level of abuse targeted at him on social media site, X, ramped up.

Among the thousands of abusive posts, most are from anonymous accounts who also target other public figures from ethnic minorities, such as London Mayor Sadiq Khan.

Last week on X, @Mister_Mutley included Yousaf’s X handle and wrote: “It’s over, go home! You don’t need to be here anymore, off you trot.”

On May 7 @MartinSSLewis14 added: “Go home. You will never be welcome here.”

The same day @PeetPlow tweeted: “To all blacks and browns: go home, you are not welcome here.”

On May 6, Matt Coladangelo @colodagalo51186 tweeted: “Time to go back home for a bacon sarnie. No more prayers entertained.

Days earlier on May 3 @BrowningMachine tweeted: “LOL this scummy Muslim P**i had to resign. Uses “White” like it’s an expletive.”

Whist on May 3 @MeestrAfternoon tweeted: “Go home p**i an leave the great Scottish people be.”

The same day @SmithAgsmith, from London, tweeted: “Hooray! One less terrorist enabler in power. Good riddance Humza. Hope you and your family go back home to Gaza. Don’t worry, there are less white people there, you’ll like it.”

The real identities behind the accounts are unknown although social media sites could be able to identify those behind the accounts.

The Sunday Mail was able to trace one as a James Goddard who runs a site he calls Vile News Daily.

He tweeted about Yousaf: “Pack up your prayer mat and go Humza You’re not wanted in Scotland or the UK Go home.”

Last night Goddard doubled down on his abuse in a hate-filled response when approached.

Part of his response said: “Firstly I won’t acknowledge the politically correct, misleading and contradictory term known as ‘racism’ which is ultimately the anti white agenda that you’re apart of.

“If I was born in India, China or Thailand to two white British parents I wouldn’t be classed as Indian, Chinese or Thai.”

In April, dad of two Yousaf condemned racist graffiti relating to his Pakistani heritage which was sprayed on the walls and fences in a street in Broughty Ferry near to his Dundee home.

And last October, Yousaf was also forced to defend himself after social media platform X owner Elon Musk branded him ‘racist’ after viewing an edited clip of speech in which Yousaf pointed out the lack of people from ethic backgrounds in top jobs.

The Sunday Mail contacted social media platform X to ask what they were doing to combat racism towards users.

The response we received said: “Busy now, please check back later.”

Scottish Conservative Deputy Chairwoman Pam Gosal said: “This horrendous racist abuse aimed at the former First Minister has no place in our society.

“As chair of the Scottish Conservatives Friends of BAME, I am determined to ensure we have more candidates standing from diverse backgrounds at elections than ever before.

“The risk is that some are put off from standing when they see the vile messages sent to Humza Yousaf.”

Stand up to Racism Scotland Sconvenor Talat Ahmed said: “Whatever your political positions, everybody should reject the abhorrent racist abuse directed at Humza Yousaf.

“The way in which Tory politicians have made incendiary islamophobic comments in the wake of protests calling for a ceasefire has emboldened racists across society.

“This trend now continues with the Rwanda policy that seeks to scapegoat refugees. We must unite to oppose these racist attacks.”

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