Exclusive:Kirk moderator: Asylum protests make me so ashamed of Scotland

The moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has said protests outside an asylum hotel left her "so ashamed of Scotland".

The Rt Rev Rosemary Frew condemned the “hate-filled” scenes in Falkirk, which were the subject of a recent BBC Scotland documentary.

She said it was “distressing” to watch and listen to the “absolute hatred” on display towards those who have left their own countries to come to Scotland.

People take part in a protest outside the Cladhan Hotel in Falkirk in September | PA

Falkirk has been the site of regular anti-immigration protests outside the Cladhan Hotel, which is being used to house asylum seekers. The angry divisions there and in Aberdeen were the focus of a BBC Scotland Disclosure documentary, Are Refugees Welcome Here?

READ MORE: Falkirk asylum hotel: Standoff between anti-immigration group and counter-protesters in Falkirk

This included scenes of people shouting abuse at asylum seekers on the street. Windows have also been smashed at the Falkirk hotel.

Speaking to The Scotsman, Ms Frew said: “It was quite distressing to watch and to listen to, and just to hear the hatred, the absolute hatred that people have for a group of people who have left their countries for whatever reason - but many of the reasons because where they were was unsafe.

The Rt Rev Rosemary Frew | PA

“And I just commented to my husband, what must they be thinking as they sit in that hotel in Falkirk and outside there is... Just the hatred, the hate that was being expressed towards them.

“The threats that were being made towards them, and also between the two sides we now have who are gathered in demonstration. It just made me so ashamed of Scotland."

Ms Frew said the anti-immigration protests were at odds with a recent event she attended to mark 60 years of the Saltire Memorial in Athelstaneford, the birthplace of Scotland’s flag.

She said: "On Sunday [November 30], I was at Athelstaneford for the Saltire service and the rededicated of the Saltire there, and all the words that were being used - Scotland, a place of welcome, and a home for those born here, for those who have made it their home, and who have come seeking a home.

"And that's what we were affirming as we hoisted this brand new flag and they launched a new appeal to recognise this place where the Scottish flag had its origins.

"All of these words were just so at odds with what you are hearing outside hotels in Falkirk. And the Scotland that I love and the Scotland that I want to live in is that welcoming Scotland, and not that hate-filled Scotland."

READ MORE: Falkirk asylum hotel: Brick thrown through window following protests outside Scots asylum hotel

First Minister John Swinney previously called the protests outside asylum hotels racist.

“Many of the people who are participating in these protests against the asylum seeker hotels are people who are spreading racist hate in our country,” he said.

“So yes, there are people in there who are doing exactly that, and that’s why that’s got to be confronted and why people in Scotland can rely on their First Minister to do exactly that.”

Asked if the protests themselves were racist, the First Minister said: “Yes they are. They are expressing hostility towards individuals and it is important that we confront that sentiment.”

Falkirk councillor Laura Murtagh has called for exclusion zones to be set up around the hotels to push protests away.

At a rally in Glasgow at the end of November, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said countering racism and prejudice was above party politics.

“John [Swinney] and I are going to have lots of arguments over the next six months,” he said.

“But there is one thing that I know that I will always stand shoulder to shoulder with him on and he will always stand shoulder to shoulder with me on, because some things are bigger that party politics in Scotland and that is challenging prejudice and hate.”