Can the SNP regain the trust of the Muslim community?

Grudsky wrote on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, that they had discussed the release of Israeli hostages, and that she was “looking forward to cooperating” with Scotland in areas such as renewable energy, technology and culture.

There was anger from all levels of the party directed at Robertson for engaging with the Israeli diplomat.  

The SNP’s former partners in government, the Greens, were also furious and released a statement which read: “This is a shameless two-faced approach from the SNP.  They publicly condemn Israel’s war crimes whilst holding secret meetings with its representatives to discuss so-called ‘mutual interest’.

“Angus Robertson wouldn’t dream of meeting representatives of Syria’s murderous Assad regime. Apartheid Israel should be no different.”

Current party leader John Swinney admitted he understood why some felt a face-to-face meeting was “not appropriate”, but it gave an opportunity for the SNP to outline its “long-standing position on an immediate ceasefire directly, and explicitly, to one of Israel's representatives in the UK.”

Moreover, the party removed the whip from MSP John Mason after he claimed Israel wasn’t committing genocide.

The SNP lost 39 seats at the recent general election.

Many commentators attributed such a loss of trust on the continuing police investigation into party finances and disillusionment with the SNP’s running of public services.  

Many Muslim voters in Scotland remained loyal in large due to the party’s stance on Gaza.

Robertson has now apologised with the Scottish Government suspending all meetings with the Israeli Government until ‘real progress is made’ in peace talks.

It’s not the first time the SNP’s “mixed messages” over the Middle East has caused controversy.

Two months ago, John Swinney was asked by a pro-Palestine activist if his visit to a mosque in Edinburgh was a “publicity stunt?”

She went on to challenge him on reports that a Scottish Government agency had given “tax-payer funded grants” to arms companies accused of supplying weapons to the Israeli Government to commit “genocide in Gaza”, and when as education secretary he “opposed the inclusion of Palestinian education material”.

Mr Swinney replied that “one of the first things he did” after becoming SNP leader was to call for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

He added that responsibility of delivering curriculum lies not with ministers but Education Scotland, and that “stringent controls” were in place to ensure money awarded “cannot be used” for the purposes she had mentioned.

Grassroot Asian SNP members and supporters have taken to social media and the airwaves to argue that one meeting shouldn’t overshadow the party’s longstanding call for a ceasefire and for the suspension of arms sales to Israel.

For many the SNP’s USP to the Muslim community was their stance on Gaza but they now feel betrayed.  Angus Robertson is a cabinet minister whose meeting with Grudsky was sanctioned by the leader of the party.

This uproar came at a time when relations with some in the Muslim community are strained due to the “politicization of the pulpit”.  

A Glasgow-based imam has branded the practice of politicians addressing worshippers on Friday prayers as “unacceptable”.

The imam in question, who wishes to remain anonymous, says he had been approached by numerous members of the Muslim community, unhappy at John Swinney being allowed to address a congregation on such a sacred occasion.

He said: “John Swinney wouldn’t be given a similar platform in a synagogue or church so why is it happening in a mosque? It’s unacceptable that a politician is allowed to deliver a party election broadcast from the pulpit.”

Footage taken on June 7 shows Mr Swinney, flanked by his predecessor Humza Yousaf, telling worshippers that he wants to “work very closely with the Muslim community” before going on to mention some local concerns.

The imam continued: “We want politicians to engage with their communities but there is a time and place. The management of mosques need to take a much stricter line.  They need to put their foot down and make it clear that a mosque is a place of worship and its sanctity cannot be violated.

“For any future election campaigns, they should be given options of hustings or a meet and greet session outside the mosque, once prayers have been completed. Friday prayers cannot be reduced to a circus.”

In the lead up to the general election numerous SNP politicians, paid visits to mosques within their constituencies to coincide with Friday prayers.

This included Peter Wishart, David Linden, Steven Bonnar and Deidre Brock. Both Anum Qaisar and Marion Fellows attended Eid prayers.  Photographs on various social media platforms showed them addressing worshippers with the issue of Gaza featuring highly.

John Swinney isn’t the first SNP leader and Scottish First Minister whose visit to a mosque has ended in controversy.

In March this year, a mosque in Glasgow’s West End issued a statement defending their decision to give Humza Yousaf an opportunity to “say a few words”, after worshippers expressed their disquiet given his promotion of same-sex marriage and gender reform.

In 2019 footage was posted online of Nicola Sturgeon at a mosque in Glasgow’s Southside.

It was pointed out on social media that many mosques in her constituency, home to the largest Muslim population in Scotland, don’t provide prayer space for local Muslim women, yet she was given the stage, with her hair uncovered, to explain her referendum strategy.

With Scottish Parliamentary elections due to take place in the summer of 2026, some community activists believe the SNP faces a battle to regain trust.

A spokesperson for the SNP said: “Our politicians are regularly invited to mosques, gurdwaras, temples, synagogues and churches to engage with our country’s diverse communities, and to listen and respond to their concerns and priorities as part of Scotland’s vibrant democracy.”