This Press and Journal story - Aberdeen man insists tweets were not racist and says his prosecution is ‘a crime against humanity’ - may be hidden behind a paywall so I have taken the liberty of copying and pasting the text below so that everyone can read it free of charge.
Peter Dow - a self-proclaimed scientist and anti-terror expert - denied posting racially offensive messages and is defending himself in court.
By Reporter
November 6 2025, 6:00 am
An Aberdeen man who allegedly posted racially offensive messages online claimed the only “crime” committed was by the police when they seized his prized computer.
Peter Dow, who described himself as an anti-terrorism expert and scientist, is charged with acting in a racially aggravated manner towards Humza Yousaf, then the First Minister, on dates in February, March and June 2024.
The 64-year-old is also accused of sending similar tweets about Kaukab Stewart, then the SNP’s Equalities Minister, on December 3 last year.
Defending himself at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Tuesday, Dow told Sheriff Ian Wallace there was no case to answer.
During the hearing, the sheriff had to repeatedly remind him to focus solely on the matter at hand.
Proceedings will continue in December, when Dow, who denies any wrongdoing, will learn whether he successfully argued to have his prosecution abandoned.
‘Crime against humanity’
Dow’s Hollybank Place flat was raided by Police Scotland on December 18 last year.
His desktop computer and mobile phone were seized as potential evidence.
He yesterday branded it a “crime against humanity”, claiming to rely on the device to carry out scientific research.
The court heard he had also used the computer to post on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
On it, he used the term “P***” in posts about both the former First Minister and Mrs Stewart and called for imams to be deported.
In an impassioned address to the court, Dow read from a five-page document and urged Sheriff Wallace to drop the charges.
“It is simply not possible to harass anyone on X because it is so easy to avoid reading any more posts from the same author whose post you’ve taken a dislike to by muting or blocking posts from disliked authors,” he said.
“If you can’t stand to read on X displeasing words which are critical of your favourite politicians, then don’t read them. It is that simple. It is that easy.”
Dow then claimed his work as a scientist was being hindered by the prosecution, claiming that humanity was being impacted.
He told the court: “The interruptions of the duties of a scientist in the service of humanity is a crime against humanity committed with inhumane recklessness by police and prosecutors to this day. That’s true. That’s damning.”
Dow ended by demanding the return of his seized possessions and for the replacement of his front door, which was forced open during the police raid.
Peter Dow said his scientific research has been disrupted by his arrest. Image: DC Thomson
‘I’m normally the most intelligent person here’
Dow was also given the opportunity to question police witnesses, asking them if it was racist to use the word “P***” as an abbreviation of the word Pakistani.
His line of questioning – which made references to terrorism, religion and the hit ITV gameshow The Chase – was often halted by the sheriff.
Addressing Constable Craig Williams, who had taken photographs of Dow’s messages on February 28, March 14, and March 26, from a member of the public who reported him, he asked: “Are Pakistanis getting away with murder because any witness who happens to use the word P*** is being falsely arrested for racism by the police?”
Mr Williams was told to ignore the question by Sheriff Wallace, who stopped a further line of questioning he branded “clearly not relevant”.
Dow told the sheriff that he was often the smartest man in a courtroom.
He said: “I’m an anti-terrorist expert who’s been arrested. I’m a scientist, I don’t know if you know that.
“I’m a clever guy. In a courtroom like this, I’m normally the most intelligent person here. Not that there aren’t intelligent lawyers.
“We know, for example, in The Chaser [sic] the Dark Destroyer. He’s a lawyer. He’s a very clever man.”
Sheriff Wallace responded: “Please apply your intelligence that you have to your questions, because you’re clearly missing what the point of this trial is.”
Shaun Wallace, the Dark Destroyer in The Chase, was mentioned during the trial. Image: ITV/Shutterstock.
Video of execution not allowed to be shown
Dow then asked Constable Ashley Macfarlane, who compiled the criminal complaints against him, whether she wished to see a video of a woman being executed to help explain his train of thought.
“I’ve got a video I can show you of a woman being stoned to death by the Taliban regime in Afghanistan if you don’t believe me,” he said.
“What point I’m trying to make here is Kaukab Stewart is giving Pakistan a free pass. That could be my legitimate reason for criticising her.”
But Sheriff Wallace told Dow he would not be showing the court his video.
The case called at Aberdeen Sheriff Court. Image: DC Thomson.
Politics, science, and ladies
Detective Constable Ashleigh [sic - "Kayleigh" is her name] Mclean, who carried out the warrant on Dow’s home, also interviewed him on the day of his arrest.
That interview, which details his background as being long-term unemployed since at least 1991, was played in full to the court.
During it, Dow tells officers that being racist is not the “impression I want to give at all”.
“I’m not a racist, so I wouldn’t make a racist post,” he said.
“If someone thinks it’s racist, they’ve obviously misunderstood. I’m an anti-racist myself.”
Dow would go on to tell officers his personal interests.
“I’ve got three main interests, which is, you know, the science, the politics and the ladies,” he said.
Questioning Ms Mclean, he asked: “It’s reasonable, isn’t it, that people have non-racist reasons for making social media posts critical of Pakistan and Pakistanis?”
Ms Mclean replied: “In general, yes, I suppose so.”
The trial against Dow will resume on December 17.
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