Claim: A viral image shows that an iftar hosted by Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf featured a “halal sheep head” as part of the food served at the event.
Fact: The image is doctored; the sheep’s head has been superimposed on the picture.
On 30 March 2024, X (formerly Twitter) user @DownWithTheSNP posted (archive) a picture of Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf at an iftar event, allegedly with the skinned head of a sheep as part of the food served at the occasion.
@DownWithTheSNP wrote the following text as the caption:
“Humza Yousaf’s interfaith iftar at Bute House last night featured a halal sheep head.”
Yousaf, also the leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), hosted (archive) an “Interfaith Iftar meal” at his official residence, the Bute House. A post on the First Minister’s X account stated, “The evening was spent sharing and valuing Scotland’s diverse religious traditions and further strengthening bonds across our communities.”
Iftar is the evening meal with which Muslims break their day-long fast during the holy month of Ramzan.
Yousaf also quoted (archive) the X post and wrote, “It was a real honour hosting our diverse faith communities in Bute House for iftar. In the face of rising hatred and tensions, it is crucial that we work to bring communities together. I thanked those present for the enormous contribution our faith communities make to Scotland.”
Separately, he posted (archive) about azaan, or the Islamic call to prayer, at the Bute House, saying it was “quite possibly the first time” that that had happened and writing, “Muslims break their fast at sunset with the call to prayer. Today, Sheikh Rabbani performed the call to prayer in Bute House with friends from across different faith communities.”
Fact or Fiction?
Soch Fact Check reverse-searched the photo but did not find any relevant results, indicating that the dubious picture was possibly posted the first time in the viral X post. We also observed that the edges of the sheep’s head stand out sharply against its surroundings, suggesting that it has been superimposed on the original picture.
Some X users — here (archive) and here (archive) — also pointed out that the sheep head was doctored into the image.
The images of the iftar event in the X posts by Yousaf’s official government and personal accounts do not include the original photograph that appears to be doctored.
Consequently, when Soch Fact Check reverse-searched the specific portion of the image showing the sheep’s head, we were able to find it here (archive) on the website of Wholesome NOVA, a community focused on “sustainable organic farming practices” and working through “a membership-based farm-to-consumer buying club”, as per its website (archive).
Soch Fact Check contacted Yousaf’s party, the SNP, and the Scottish government for comment.
In an email, the First Minister’s Communications department shared with us a link to the original photograph (archive) available on the Scottish government’s Flickr account.
Left: Viral photograph; right: Original, uncropped photograph available on the Scottish government’s Flickr account
This article will be updated if and when the SNP responds.
Virality
The post by @DownWithTheSNP has been viewed over 132,100 times as of writing time.
Soch Fact Check found that the doctored image was also shared on X here, here, and here, where it was viewed more than 4,400, 1,100, and 1,000 times, respectively.
Conclusion: The image is doctored; the sheep’s head has been superimposed on the picture.
Background image in cover photo: chris robert
To appeal against our fact-check, please send an email to appeals@sochfactcheck.com