PUBLIC health expert Devi Sridhar has shared a screenshot highlighting some of the vile abuse she has been sent during the coronavirus pandemic.
The professor, who advises the Scottish Government on its response to the Covid-19 pandemic, has been forced to defend herself in recent days after her comments on England and Scotland’s lockdown differences angered Unionist trolls.
Sridhar has said while Scotland is “days away” from eliminating coronavirus, it will be unlikely to achieve this without the co-operation of England. She has been critical of the UK Government’s approach to the pandemic, and supports a more cautious return to normality following lockdown.
READ MORE: Devi Sridhar hits back as Unionist brands her a 'so-called' expert
She has been accused of “playing politics” and was last week branded a “so-called expert” by one account.
At the weekend Tory MSPs questioned her political neutrality, to which the professor defended her right to express her views.
She told them: "[I] have always expressed my opinions openly ... I’m an independent academic & have no funding from Scottish govt. Originally from Miami & finding these cheap attacks bizarre & sad."
Sridhar added: "To Americans wondering what’s going on, here’s my naive take: Scotland is now doing well in its response to Covid-19 which seems to anger anti-Scottish, pro-UK people (‘Unionists’) who are now turning their attacks on me bc I serve on scientific advisory group to Scottish govt."
This afternoon, the chair of global public health at Edinburgh University shared a screenshot of the kind of vile abuse she has been sent directly.
She posted: “Work incredibly long hours for months to contribute expertise to protect people's lives & livelihoods- and this is the response to scientists engaging publicly.
Work incredibly long hours for months to contribute expertise to protect people's lives & livelihoods- and this is the response to scientists engaging publicly. Colleagues receiving similar notes from Germany to Australia to U.S.A to India. pic.twitter.com/eF3xIBS1XC
— Devi Sridhar (@devisridhar) July 7, 2020
“Colleagues receiving similar notes from Germany to Australia to U.S.A to India.”
The screenshot showed an email reading: “Devi, whores like you would love the Corona Virus to kill millions.
“When your politics benefits from death & destruction it means you are an evil person.”
The email subject line read: “Mind your own business >> Devi Sridhar << you ignorant fascist c***.”
Twitter users responded to express their disgust with the message. Ross Colquhoun told the professor: “That is absolutely disgusting. I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. More power to you.”
MSP Christina McKelvie added the comments are “not acceptable on any level whatsoever”, while biographer and historian Patrick French said: “This is what women who participate in public life deal with day by day.”
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