Humza Yousaf’s family to push ahead with court action against nursery

The wife of health secretary Humza Yousaf is pushing ahead with legal action against a Dundee nursery the couple accuse of discriminating against their two-year-old daughter.

Nadia El-Nakla had requested a public apology and compensation be paid to an anti-racist charity within two weeks.

That deadline has now passed and her solicitor, Aamer Anwar, has confirmed action will be raised at Dundee Sheriff Court.

The couple claim they were told there was no availability when applying for a nursery space for their daughter Amal – but when attempts were made to secure a nursery place for a child with a ‘white sounding’, a nursery place was offered.

A spokesperson for the nursery owner said the company rejected allegations of racial or religious discrimination.

Anwar said: “On Monday August 9 2021, a claim was intimated on the Little Scholars Day Nursery, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, for a breach of the Equality Act 2010, in respect of alleged discrimination suffered by Nadia El-Nakla and her daughter, Amal Yousaf.

"We received a response from those acting for the nursery on Monday August 23 2021.

"This response refutes that there has been any discriminatory behaviour, but fails to provide a reasoned explanation as to why there were repeated refusals to accommodate children with Muslim/minority ethnic names, whilst at the same time children with white/Scottish names were offered nursery places.

"This is all despite the fact that other bodies including the Care Inspectorate and the Equality and Human Rights Commission have expressed an interest in this case.

"Under the circumstances, Nadia El-Nakla has no option but to proceed with court action against the nursery."

A spokesperson for the nursery insisted a “full and detailed response” had been provided.

They added: “We continue to refute the claims made by Mr Yousaf and Ms El-Nakla in the strongest possible terms and take pride in our position as an inclusive nursery that is open and welcoming to all.”