Following the decision of the Policy and Sustainability Committee on October 24, 2023 it was agreed that the Council and Police Scotland would issue a joint statement for Islamophobia Awareness Month.
Joint statement from Councillor Cammy Day, Leader of City of Edinburgh Council, and Edinburgh Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Sean Scott from Police Scotland:
Edinburgh is characterised and strengthened by its diversity across our communities, and we remain committed to ensuring that the Capital remains a safe, tolerant, and welcoming city for all.
We are unequivocal in our condemnation of all prejudice and intolerance – neither of which have any place here in Edinburgh or across our society.
We acknowledge the impact of hate incidents and crimes on victims, their families, and wider communities and will work together with them to tackle Islamophobia and all other forms of hate crime.
We will continue to work with groups who have lived experience of Islamophobia, and we will use their insights to further inform our work. Engagement with these communities is rightly at the heart of our approach to tackling discrimination and reassuring our residents.
We know that hate crime is under-reported and we are working closely with victims, communities, and partners to build confidence in the process and its outcomes. If you are affected by hate or know of someone who is, please report it. Find out about the different ways to report hate incidents.
Within both our own organisations, we are fully committed to broadening our understanding of Islam and combatting Islamophobia through a range of learning and development activities, such as community visits, webinars, and workshops.
Please get in touch if you need our help or if you would like to work with us on stamping Islamophobia out once and for all.
Read the full report 'Islamophobia – update on engagement' from the Policy and Sustainability Committee on October 24, 2023.