A Scots crusader has pleaded with the country’s Kurdish community to ignore Covid-19 conspiracy theories that are spreading “out of control”.
Shakha Sattar has launched a campaign to get more people from his community to “get the jab, save a life” while combating myths about the vaccines.
Shakha said the Kurdish community - Christian and Muslim - had been blighted by myths - debunked at numerous times by various sources - that the vaccine contained animal products that make it non-permissible religiously.
There have also been conspiracy theories that the vaccine contains a microchip to track people.
Shakha, 34, from Glasgow, who organises the Kurdish Development Association, said: “We are trying to raise awareness about the Covid-19 vaccine and hit back against the conspiracy theories that are in danger of running out of control in our community.
“We encourage each individual to get the vaccine - it is crucial in our fight against this disease. This vaccine is the only medical breakthrough we have to develop an immunity to this disease.”
In the past 30 years, a growing Kurdish community has taken root in Scotland. They came here to escape violence, oppression and discrimination in the four states where the nation of Kurdistan is divided: Syria, Iraq, Iran and Turkey.
Shakha said: “We are grateful to the scientists involved in developing this vaccine and we are also extremely grateful to our UK and Scottish government for distributing the vaccine to those who required it the most including healthcare workers and the vulnerable.
“We are encouraging our people to trust the scientists behind the vaccine and deny all negative conspiracy theories they may have heard.
"As we are part of the Black Asian and Minority Ethnic community, this vaccine is of great importance to us as we are have a greater degree of mortality compared to other groups.
“This vaccine will give us an immunity to defend against the virus and give us a fighting chance against this condition. I am very honoured that our Kurdish community has played their part by following the government guidelines during the lockdown.
“I understand this is a difficult period for our community but I am sure we will overcome this pandemic in the near feature.”
According to the British Islamic Medical Society, Covid-19 has disproportionately affected the UK’s Muslim community.
The Society said British Muslims tend to be more “vaccine-hesitant” than the wider population, in part because of the widespread misinformation surrounding the vaccine’s permissibility in Islam.
Earlier in January, imams across the country delivered Friday sermons that addressed the conspiracy theories, and made clear that protecting life by receiving the vaccine is of the highest importance in Islam.
