International Situation (Contingency Planning)

Part of the debate – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:33 pm on 19 March 2003.

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Photo of Rt Hon Jack McConnell Rt Hon Jack McConnell Labour 2:33, 19 March 2003

I am happy to give those assurances. In particular, I am happy to say that we will do all that we can to ensure the safety, security and integration of the Sikh community in Scotland at the present time. I make one other point: the Islamic religion is a peace-loving religion. Members of the Muslim community in Scotland are peace-loving citizens of Scotland. Just as we do not associate those who carry out extreme and violent acts in Northern Ireland with mainstream Christianity in Scotland, we must not associate those who carry out extreme, violent and murderous acts in the name of Islam around the world with those members of the Islamic religion in Scotland who are peace-loving, well-integrated members of our society.