Are these racist crimes?

[anotheoldgit]

Can one be charged with racial offences when it is white British against white Scottish, or white British against white French or white British against white German even, or any such similar combinations?

The reason I ask is because it has often been said on this site that one can't, as these are nationalities and not races.

Yet it appears one can judging by this case.

http://www.dailymail....our-4-years-hell.html

[exdc]

The definition of "racial group" includes a number of sub-categories which cover a wide range of people. In this way Colour - can include black or white for example; Nationality - can include German or Greek; Ethnic origin - can include Indian or Gypsy. NATIONAL ORIGINS- Can include Scots, Welsh or English. Some groups fall within both categories, eg Chinese as ethnic origin and nationality

[Kromovaracun]

I still think it makes more sense to take nationality differently from one's race. Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese, for instance, are distinct ethnic groups (albeit on cultural/linguistic lines rather than racial lines) with (by and large) a common national identity. Which means they surely can't be same thing. English and Scots are distinct national groups with common race living under by and large the same political authority.

I guess it all goes to highlight what an arbitary and imagined notion a 'nation' actually is.