A MAN accused of shouting racial abuse at an anti-refugee protest at Monkton has been given an absolute discharge.

Shafiq Mohammed, denied repeatedly shouting the racial remark ‘white b****rds’ and repeatedly struggling violently with police officers to hinder his arrest at Main St Monkton on November 15, 2015.

Sheriff Robert Weir adjudged him to have acted as the charges stated, delaying a formal judgement until last week. There, he told Mohammed that he would not be given a criminal record. 

During his trial last year, the court heard how Mohammed had travelled down from Glasgow as part of the campaign to welcome refugees.
He joined a counter protest against the Scottish Defence League, who were demanding action over refugees in the area.

Mohammed is a support worker for asylum seekers and refugees.
The 50-year-old appeared before Sheriff Robert Weir at Ayr Sheriff Court last week to hear that he was to be discharged both charges.

Addressing the dock Sheriff Weir said: “It has now been some months since the conclusion of the trial of this case. I understand you have been of good behaviour not just since the trial but since the actual events that gave rise to the trial.

“You appear without previous convictions and the assessment says you are at low risk of offending. There have been many references of you good character.

“You will have to accept my findings of guilt which I find appropriate but I will discharge you absolutely.”

Speaking after the verdict, Shafiq said: “I was hopeful I would get an absolute discharge. The accusations are toxic and the behaviour displayed from the SDL was horrific. I believe they should be held to account.

“I was spat at called a ‘black b****rd’. I have had to endure this [procedure] for three months. I spoke to a police officer who was close enough to hear me being called this but he took no action.”

Jock Morris, chairman of the Glasgow Campaign for refugees, added:

“This case should never have been brought to the court.

“The behaviour of the SDL was quite appalling. There was verbal abuse and Hitler salutes and Shafiq was spat at.

“Shafiq was there to show his support to asylum seekers. We need to look at the problems with the law if it is this easy to put a man like Shafiq through this torment.”

But this has not deterred the 50-year-old from continuing his work helping some of the most vulnerable people in society.

Shafiq concluded: “My experience has made me more determined. I have not let this get to me and I am not going to be intimidated by these people. 

“I will certainly work hard to help these vulnerable people.”