Humza Yousaf has been confronted at the Glasgow count in the Emirates Arena by an anti-vaccination candidate from the Liberal Party.
Derek Jackson was wearing a yellow star on his suit jacket in the unpleasant scene. His party has no connection to the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Jackson denied his yellow star, which had the words "UNVAX" written on them, was an anti-semitic gesture. However, he was criticised in 2017 for using an image of Auschwitz in a previous election campaign.
Yousaf said Jackson and his supporters made a "bee line" for him when they entered the count hall at the Emirates Arena, the Daily Record reports.
"They were directing questions to me about Pakistan, obviously because of my colour of skin," he said. "I'm not from Pakistan. My home is in Scotland."
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Speaking to reporters, Yousaf added: "They got a very robust response from not just my team but others as well.
“What I’m always struck by is voices of good always outweigh the voices of hatred.
“I was delighted to be joined my colleagues right across the political parties, from Labour and other parties, standing in unity with me.
“So I’m pleased their voices were drowned out.
“You had six muppets here and then you very quickly had 25 people on the other side telling them where to go. That to me is the best of Scotland really.”
It comes after Nicola Sturgeon was yesterday accosted by ex-Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen on the street of the First Minister's Glasgow Southside constituency.
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Fransen confronted Sturgeon, calling her "a disgrace", with the First Minister initially refusing to engage with her.
However, she later responded: “You are a fascist. You are a racist, and the south side of Glasgow will reject you.”
