Thousands of people have signed a petition demanding two Scottish events organised by a controversial “pick-up artist” should be banned.
Glasgow and Edinburgh are to both stage events on Saturday for followers of the anti-feminist blogger Daryush Valizadeh, who goes by the name Roosh V.
The blogger, who has claimed rape should be legal on private property, has arranged events in 40 cities around the world for like-minded men to meet up.
An online petition opposing the Scottish events gained 15,000 signatures in seven hours. The signature count has since approached 40,000.
Organised by Cat Boyd, the petition states: “Promoting rape is hate speech, and should be treated as such.”
His website provides so-called advice on how to pick up women. He has self-published 15 books offering guides on how to sleep with women in different countries.
He claims feminism has made men weak and if a woman agrees to go to a man’s home then she has already consented to sex.
Eight cities in the UK are holding gatherings, which Valizadeh claims will reassert men’s status in society.
He claims his supporters will exact “furious retribution” on women who film the meetings.
Scottish followers will meet at George Square in Glasgow and Edinburgh’s Grassmarket before moving to a secret location.
Valizadeh wrote: “Up to now, the enemy has been able to exert their power by isolating us and attacking with shrieking mobs, but we’ll be able to neutralise that tactic by amassing in high numbers come February 6… Let the sixth of February be a clear signal to all that we’re not going anywhere. We have finally arrived.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Sex without consent is rape. There are no excuses. If someone is drunk or drugged they cannot give consent.”