Vandals have angered mourners and members of the Muslim community after writing hate-filled phrases at a graveyard.

One visitor spotted the graffiti, claiming to be by Britain First, sprayed over the Muslim graveyard sign at Cathcart Cemetery on Tuesday.

They returned yesterday to find the vile slogans still there.

Amjid Bashir, an entrepreneur from East Kilbride, is one of the organisers of Islam Awareness Week and has been sickened by the act of hatred.

He tweeted The Evening Times about it.

 

Mr Bashir said: "Someone saw it on Tuesday and went back on Wednesday and took a picture of it.

"Myself and most other people see this as hate crime.

"It is no different to desecrating graves of the Jewish or Christian Community.

"There was a big campaign last week for Islam awareness week about the need to tackle Islamophobia and how much it bis affecting every day Muslims, who are really trying to give back to dispel the negativity.

"We do have a problem on our doorstep and it needs to be addressed.

"The police have been involved and they are going to hopefully get out there this morning.

"My understanding is that it will be treated as a hate crime.

"We are disgusted by it.

"My father is buried there, and I feel disgusted...The person who first shared this, their family are buried there.

"This is the last resting place of my father and it's hard enough going there with a lot of emotion to deal with, having a loved on who passed away.

It's difficult to visit. The last thing you want to do is be confronted with hatred on the way to seeing one of your loved ones.

"It's despicable and it seems as if the people who did this have no regard for the deceased or the fact it's a very emotional place."

Police and East Renfrewshire Council are understood to be aware of the incident.

A Spokeswoman for East Renfrewshire Council said: "This is a disgraceful act of vandalism that does not reflect the views of our local community or the wider Scottish community.

"We have reported this matter to Police and our graffiti removal team are on their way to the site.  

"East Renfrewshire Council has a zero tolerance policy to any form of hate or racism and would urge local people to contact Police if they have information about this incident".