http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/author-of-sectarian-study-is-member-of-pro-ira-fanzine-1.991848
Paul Hutcheon
Published on 13 Dec 2009
Politicians question impartiality of ‘tainted’ report
A study into sectarianism funded with public money has been questioned after it emerged that one of its authors is a member of a pro-IRA Celtic FC fan group. Fatima Uygun joined the online version of fanzine Tiocfaidh Ar La earlier this year. Tiocfaidh Ar La translates as “Our Day Will Come” and is a popular IRA slogan in Northern Ireland. The fanzine has been a consistent supporter of the Republican armed struggle in Northern Ireland.
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) last month unveiled a report into sectarianism in the workplace. The study – aided by £10,000 from the Scottish Government and matching support from publicly-funded body Sense over Sectarianism – found sectarian prejudice had evolved into a “more subtle and disguised form”.
The report, co-written by Ms Uygun, Professor Gerry Finn and Andrew Johnson, called for firms to be legally required to record sectarian incidents in the workplace.
Ms Uygun, 42, joined the Tiocfaidh Ar La (TAL) online fanzine as “Fatima Celtic67” in February – after the academic study was completed. The publication, set up in 1991, describes itself as anti-fascist, anti-racist and in favour of “politically progressive movements”. However, it also claims to be “the authentic voice of the republican-minded Celtic supporters”.
One issue of the magazine honoured a former IRA chief of staff, while another article, published after former prime minister Tony Blair started peace negotiations in Northern Ireland, dismissed calls for the IRA to disarm: “On this issue, it might be prudent to remember what James Connolly said to the Irish Citizen’s Army on the eve of the Easter Rising – ‘Hold on to your rifles’.”
The same article noted: “The people who forced the Brits into negotiations with Sinn Fein were the volunteer soldiers of the IRA. The British Establishment was bombed to the negotiating table.”
On former First Minister Jack McConnell’s anti-sectarian stance, another article noted: “In reality, this campaign has been a cover to push back growing expressions of Irish nationalism.”
In an interview with the left-wing Class War publication, a spokesman for TAL said: “It was essential TAL clearly expressed its support for the republican people and their struggle to get the Brits out, by any means necessary.”
Although the STUC study focused on discrimination against Catholics and Protestants, one passage noted: “Much that is claimed to be sectarianism is better described as anti-Irish racism.”
Uygun told the Sunday Herald her political views played no part in the study: “My politics aren’t particularly a secret. I’m a revolutionary socialist. I’m not a nationalist. I believe in both Protestant and Irish people actually working together, to bring about a better world.”
Asked why she joined the TAL forum, she said: “I’m a fan of a whole range of things. It’s just one of those things. I’m a bit uncomfortable with my personal beliefs being brought into this.”
She added: “You shouldn’t really be writing stuff about this, because it’s really not helpful to the research. I hope you are not going to be putting anything in about my own personal beliefs. It’s really unprofessional of you to even bring it up, really.”
Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West, said: “It seems to me inappropriate that someone with such strong views has been involved in the composition of the report. It calls into question its impartiality.”
Robert Brown, a Liberal Democrat MSP for Glasgow, said: “There are some points raised by this study that are valid regardless of who wrote it, but perhaps there are some limitations on how much reliance you can place on it if it has come from a source that’s too much on one side of the argument.”
Bill Aitken, a Conservative MSP in Glasgow, said: “The public, having paid for this study, are entitled to expect this research has been carried out by those whose views are not tainted by opinions already expressed on the same subject.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “It was for the STUC to take forward work on the report and pick the research team.”
Grahame Smith, STUC general secretary said: “The STUC believes this report is a significant contribution to the debate about sectarianism in Scotland.”
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