John Mason, the recently elected SNP MP for Glasgow East, accused those who criticised a SNP Councillor who appeared on video firing a Kalashnikov rifle in Pakistan of being racist.
Councillor Jahangir Hanif was suspended from the SNP in August for two months after a video emerged showing him demonstrating how to use a gun to his children during a trip to the Kashmir border in 2005.
Mason – the former SNP leader of Glasgow council – said that opposing the use of guns in other countries where they could be an important part of national culture was 'thinly disguised racism'.
His comments were in response to calls from the Labour MP he defeated Margaret Curran for him to back those who feel a two month suspension is inadequate.He said:
"Once we start implying other countries are second rate because they have a different opinion from us, we are surely being racist.”
"Councillor Hanif may have been unwise to engage in the actions he did, but I would appeal to all politicians to avoid criticism that harks back to a colonial era.”
Mason’s comments sparked debate at Holyrood after Labour's acting leader, Cathy Jamieson challenged Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond over Mason's statements and defence of Councillor Hanif.
Jamieson later said of Salmond:
"His bumbling performance and refusal to apologise leaves the SNP's credibility on gun crime in tatters."
"Most ordinary decent families will agree it is unacceptable for an elected representative to pose with a Kalashnikov and encourage their children to play with real guns. John Mason's comments are disgraceful."
"Criticism of Mr Hanif has nothing to do with race or colonialism. Even his daughter thinks the SNP should have kicked him out."
