LOCAL MSP DEPLORES SCOTTISH DEFENCE LEAGUE MARCH IN LOCKERBIE

Lockerbie MSP Elaine Murray has led the condemnation of the Scottish Defence League's announcement that they will march in Lockerbie on 27 March. She described the proposed march as a "deplorable publicity stunt” by the group that was “intended to use the tragedy of the Lockerbie disaster as a platform to spread their narrow-minded and extremist views”.

Purporting to oppose what they call the Islamification of the UK, the Scottish and English Defence Leagues claim to be protecting the British way of life. On the SDL’s website they announced last week that they would be staging a vigil in Lockerbie following their humiliation in Edinburgh. They claim their march is to condemn the decision by Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill to release Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi and also in response to his speech at a Scotland United rally in Edinburgh on the 20th February - when over 2500 marched against the SDL - where he said the capital has a proud record of being open to all.

Elaine Murray has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament deploring the SDL’s intention to march.

Elaine Murray MSP said: "This is a deplorable publicity stunt by the SDL intended to use the tragedy of the Lockerbie disaster as a platform to spread their narrow-minded and extremist views.

“The people of Lockerbie detest the racist views of this hateful anti-Islamic group. We don't want them in our town. For those who lost loved ones in the tragedy the pain of the Lockerbie disaster can never diminish. It was brought to the fore when al-Megrahi was released last year and I am disgusted that the SDL are trying to use the hurt of the victims and their families to further their own agenda.

“They are not marching for Scotland or Lockerbie and I abhor the fact they are using the name of our town in a repulsive attempt to lend legitimacy to their hatred.

“Politicians, campaigners and local people are united in their rejection of the Scottish Defence League.

“While the Scottish and English Defence League have shown total disregard for the opinions of local people in previous marches, I call on any shred of decency within the group to recognise that their actions in Lockerbie will be disrespectful to the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy and they should call it off”.

ENDS

CONTACT - ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856

NOTES TO EDITOR

2. Elaine Murray MSP has put down a motion in the Scottish Parliament:

S3M-5827 Elaine Murray: Scottish Defence League Not Welcome in Lockerbie

That the Parliament deplores the announcement by the so-called Scottish Defence League that they intend to march in Lockerbie on 27 March 2010; believes that this is an extremist group trying to use the Lockerbie tragedy of 1988 to spread its racist and anti-Islamic views; further believes that this event would be an affront to the people of Lockerbie, to the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy and to their families, and calls on the Scottish and English Defence Leagues to call off this march forthwith.