HUMZA Yousaf has been awarded for his role in public service at the Scottish Asian Awards.
At a ceremony in Glasgow on Sunday night, Yousaf received the Bashir Maan CBE and Bashir Ahmed MSP Award for Public Service and urged the crowd: “Do not stop talking about Gaza and Lebanon.”
Also in attendance was First Minister John Swinney who strongly condemned the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon, called for an immediate ceasefire, and praised the leadership of his predecessor Yousaf.
Attendees celebrated the achievements and contributions of Scottish Muslims in combating Islamophobia and enhancing Scottish society.
The former first minister also paid tribute to his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, who was also in attendance.
He added: “Do not stop talking about Gaza or Lebanon. Do not stop. You must keep talking about Gaza and the atrocities taking place in the Middle East.”
“My dear friend John Swinney has said that what we are seeing his hypocrisy, but I would say it is worse than that. What we are seeing is racism because I’m telling you now, if those tens of thousands of children killed in Gaza or the thousands of civilians that have been killed in Lebanon were blonde-haired and blue-eyed and European, then Israel would have been stopped in their tracks months ago.
“So, let’s make sure that were making it clear that our beliefs matter and Muslim lives matter.”
Yousaf went on to pledge that he would “always stand up for the innocent people in any society”.
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In his opening remarks, First Minister Swinney said: “It is absolutely heartbreaking to see what has unfolded over the past 12 months. The conflict has been both acute and morally indefensible. The Scottish Government, under the incredible and decisive leadership of Humza Yousaf, called for an immediate ceasefire 11 months ago. It was clear then, as it is even more so today, that the human suffering in Gaza is relentless and unacceptable. If the case for a ceasefire was strong last October, it is now absolutely desperate and necessary.”
Swinney further emphasised the dangers of regional escalation: “The suffering in Gaza is morally indefensible, and what we are now seeing in Lebanon, alongside earlier events in Yemen, signals the potential for a broader, more dangerous conflict in the Middle East. Tonight, I reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire, the resumption of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and a two-state solution that recognises an independent, sovereign Palestinian state. We must end the hypocrisy of accepting ongoing conflict and suffering in the Middle East, in the interest of human dignity for all.”
The awards also recognised organisations like Islamic Relief Scotland, Al Meezan, and the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, as well as individuals across Scotland who have made significant contributions to their communities.
The full list of winners is below:
- Abu Bakr ibn al-Arabi Award for Education: Professor Muhammad Zeeshan Shakir
- Al Khidmat Award for Charity or Community Organisation: Islamic Relief Scotland
- Al Quds Award for Islamic Institute: Al-Meezan
- Al-Shifa Award for Medical Services: Dr Sahira Dar
- The Anas ibn Malik (RA) Award for Young Muslim of the Year: Iona Polson
- Babar Saleem Award for Community Engagement: SPS Forum of Muslims Chaplains
- Bashir Maan (OBE) & Bashir Ahmed Award for Public Service: Former First Minister Humza Yousuf MSP
- Fakhrudin Razi Award for Professional of the Year: Aamer Anwar
- Hadhrat Khadija Kubra (RA) Business Award: Amana Food
- Imam al Ghazali Award for Religious Personality of the Year: Asma Shaikh
- The Imran Sabir Bravehard Award: Shared between Amjid Majeed, Imam Ibrahim Alwawi, Dr Ibrahim Khadra and Abdul Rahman & Reehan Ali (Pedal 2 Hajj)
- Ja’afar ibn Abi Talib (RA) Award for New Scots: Baillie Roza Salih won
- Junaid Jamshed Award for Arts and Entertainment: Azim Din
- Malcolm X Award for Community Activism: Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee
- Muhammad Ali Award for Sports: Kaleem Barreto
- Muhammad Asad Award for Media and Communication: Radio Ramadan Glasgow
- Salahudeen Ayubi Award for the Scottish Muslim Male Of The Year. Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah
- Zainab Cobbold Award for the Scottish Muslim Female of the Year: Zara Mohammed
- Sayed Hossein Nasr Award for Environmentalism: Wheels 2 Heal
- Salaman al Farsi (RA) Award for Innovation: Amir Hussain
- An-Najashi Award for Supporting Muslims: Mick Napier
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