John Swinney has slammed Reform UK as "deplorable" after the party chose to use a Holyrood debate to call for a burqa ban in Scotland.
The First Minister told MSPs he would "always defend the safety of every single community in our country" after he was challenged by Malcolm Offord to condemn a recent English Green Party motion which defines Zionism as "racism".
But Swinney insisted the Reform leader in Scotland was in no "position to lecture me" after his party used parliamentary time to urge the Government to consider a crackdown on face coverings in public places.
Reform debate on face coverings
The debate, led by Reform's Thomas Kerr, asked MSPs to "note the ongoing debate across Scotland, and particularly in Glasgow, regarding the wearing of full-face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, in public places".
A niqab is a veil that covers the face and head, but leaves an area around the eyes clear. A burqa is a one-piece veil that covers the whole face and body, often with just a mesh screen over the eyes to see through.
Kerr said "a number of European countries have introduced restrictions" and asked the Scottish Government to "set out its full assessment of the potential benefits of introducing further restrictions on full-face coverings in public places, including consideration of public safety, individual liberty and community cohesion".
First Minister's response
Speaking at FMQs before the debate, Swinney said: "My solidarity expands to all communities in Scotland. And I don't think on a day where Thomas Kerr is going to lead a Member's Debate in here, demanding that women be forbidden from wearing the burqa in our country, that Malcolm Offord is in any position to lecture me."
"I, as First Minister of Scotland, will always defend the safety of every single community in our country, and I deplore the content of the debate we are going to hear tonight."
Swinney continued: "It is utterly beyond parody that Malcolm Offord invites me to take action on racism when he leads a party that has brought racism into this Parliamentary Chamber.
"I've served in this Parliament since 1999. I've answered questions for many years from this podium. Not once have I been asked to ban the burqa or to divide communities in this country - but I have been invited to do so since May, since that lot came into Parliament. That speaks for itself."
Protest outside Holyrood
Campaigners gathered outside Holyrood to protest the Reform debate, which they claimed was "weaponising women's lives".
Talat Yaqoob of Stand Up To Racism said: "Muslim women, women of colour and migrant women are experiencing an increase in hate crime across Scotland, we are seeing more attempts to spread disinformation and division, and actions like this calling for a burqa ban only fan the flames of division.
"Whether you force women what to wear or force them not to wear something - both are forms of misogyny. This is another obvious attempt to weaponise women's lives to spread division and we will not stand for it.
"Anyone who truly cares about women's lives would be calling for improved social housing, tackling poverty and funding frontline services, not instigating a culture war and making Muslim women a target."
