One of Scotland’s newest politicians made his oath of allegiance to Queen and country yesterday – in the national language of Pakistan.
.@HumzaYousaf just gave his swearing in oath in Urdu. Look how great it sounds: pic.twitter.com/mvPqRucslx
— Siraj Datoo (@dats) 12 May 2016
Humza Yousaf, who won a seat to represent the Scottish National Party in Glasgow, is of Pakistani heritage and entered the Scottish Parliament as one of its youngest members. He completed his swearing in ceremony in English before switching to Urdu, and opted to wear a traditional Scottish kilt for the ceremony.
The language was a powerful reflection of the multiculturalism of modern Scotland. The SNP, Yousaf's party, campaigned for Scottish independence in 2014 on the basis of an inclusive, diverse national vision. Elsewhere in the UK, London also elected Sadiq Khan as its first Muslim mayor last week.
Some, however, were predictably appalled that Yousaf decided to take the oath in a language that reflected his family’s heritage.
Think Islamaphobia just made up? This comes after I simply put up a pic of my family. Luckily more good ppl than bad pic.twitter.com/pme0qNtDIg
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) 13 May 2016
Yousaf also took his oath of allegiance in Urdu in 2011, wearing a Pakistani Sherwani outfit in traditional Scottish plaid. That year, new Members of Scottish Parliament also took their oaths in Gaelic, Scots, Doric and Italian.
