Podcaster charged after Scots councillor targeted with vile racist abuse
SUNDAY MAIL EXCLUSIVE: Craig Houston has been charged after the Glagsow politician was bombarded with Islamophobic hatred.
A Scottish podcaster has been arrested after a councillor was bombarded with racist abuse online.
Councillor Dr Soryia Siddique, who represents Glasgow Southside Central, faced a barrage of Islamophobic and racist hatred last week after she spoke about her reasons for entering politics.
In a video for ElectHer, a campaign group which helps women get into politics, Siddique said she had been surprised by how 'pale, male and stale' the environment she entered was.
Some of her comments were picked up by online trolls after a video was made specifically targeting Siddique.
The councillor, who was elected in 2012, also spoke about the challenges of being a woman in politics and her passion for the job, which were not commented on.
The abuse against the Labour councillor came in the same week Nigel Farage was accused of racism for highlighting a speech made by Anas Sarwar where he was encouraging more people from ethnic minorities to go into politics.
Scottish podcaster and Youtuber Craig Houston has now been arrested and charged by police.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'A 52-year-old man has been arrested and charged following a report of an online communication offence.
'He is due to appear at Glasgow Sheriff Court at a later date and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.'
A Glasgow Labour spokesperson said 'We understand the content of these videos is under police investigation and an individual has been charged.'
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