The National commissions special front page artwork for refugees in Scotland

REFUGEE Festival Scotland starts tomorrow – and The National will look a little different to mark the occasion.

We’ve handed over the creative reins to artist Huss and the team at Refugee Festival Scotland.

The queer Arab artist and Scottish Refugee Council programming fellow oversaw the project, putting together a special artwork and poem to send a message to asylum seekers across the country.

Huss, who cannot be named fully due to safety concerns, is unable to return from Scotland to his native Egypt.

Having studied in Scotland, the artist planned to continue his work back home. However amid backlash from people in Egypt over him performing in a queer venue, home is now a dangerous place and he fears facing violence or imprisonment due to homophobia.

Huss cannot return to Egypt over fears of violence or imprisonment due to homophobia. He performs in a mask to protect his identity, even while living in Scotland (Image: Tom Gibson)

Huss worked with his colleagues to create a piece of art to appear on The National’s front page, sending a message out to those with refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds across Scotland.

The power to craft a newspaper front page, seen in shops across Scotland, across the internet and broadcast media, is an incredible privilege that we have as members of the press.

It’s only right that we share that opportunity with those who the traditional media have long overlooked , and in some cases completely dehumanised.

The current election period has seen scaremongering over asylum seekers from the likes of Nigel Farage with calls to “stop the boats” – rhetoric Labour is all too happy to lean into.

Meanwhile far-right commentators bid to outdo each other in who can say the most despicable things about the vulnerable people seeking safety in the UK, and media outlets revel in it for clicks and views.

We want to show that these attitudes will not win. Scotland is a country where refugees should and will always be welcome, no matter what’s said on the airwaves.

Friday’s cover has been overseen by Huss, who was given free rein to work with his team to get their message out there.

READ MORE: Huss: How a queer Egyptian artist won his right to stay in Scotland

The cover features beautiful artwork by artist Malini Chakrabarty and Huss’s poem about the refugee experience in Scotland.

He told The National: “This piece is message to Scotland, a representation of Refugee Festival Scotland, and a reminder of how much we can achieve when we are all in harmony.

“We believe refugee and asylum seeking communities are precious, deserve to be protected and their voices deserve to be platformed and highlighted especially at these difficult times.”

The front page will be unveiled on social media tonight, with the special edition available to purchase in shops from tomorrow.

The National’s announcement came as the festival confirmed it will include an event to help preserve LGBT+ stories in Scotland for future generations.

It will invite people who identify as members of the LGBT+ community who have experienced the UK asylum system, displacement and migration to share their stories.

READ MORE: What is going on in Palestine at the moment is just unbearable

Equalities Minister Kaukab Stewart said: “Refugees have helped make Scotland the successful and diverse country it is today for many generations.

“We know that some of those who seek safety in Scotland do so because of their LGBTQI+ identity, and we know that this community can face particular challenges.

“The stories of the LGBTQI+ refugee community – their need for protection, seeking asylum, settling in Scotland and becoming part of our communities – are an important part of our history and should be recognised and shared with generations to come.”

Refugee Festival Scotland runs from Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 23 at locations across Scotland.

Events are free to attend, or on a sliding pricing scale.

For details on events near you, click here.