University of Edinburgh students are amongst those who falsely featured on a petition against equal marriage rights for same-sex couples in Scotland.

At least 27 entries on the petition, which has attracted 9,000 signatures, were false.

Students and Edinburgh University Students’ Association (EUSA) sabbatical officers featured on a petition opposing same-sex marriage in Scotland organised by ‘Scotland for Marriage’ in spite of the fact that they supported the campaign for equal marriage.

Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale has written to the depute first minister Nicola Sturgeon stating she was contacted by constituents who were, “furious at the fact that their names have been falsely added to the online list of supporters.”

EUSA sabbatical officers Matt McPherson, Emma Meehan and Mike Williamson all used twitter to make it clear that their names had been added to the campaign against their will.

EUSA president, McPherson said, "As someone who represents an organisation which has thrown its weight behind the campaign for equal marriage, I must say I was surprised to say the least when I saw my name on this petition.

"What's most concerning for the 'Scotland for Marriage' campaign is that it throws every one of their signatures into disrepute. The 'Scotland for Marriage' campaign is outdated and unrepresentative - and the fact that potentially hundreds of names on its petition are campaigning for equal marriage, not against it, illustrates how out of touch it is."

EUSA external convenor Stuart Tooley reported that his girlfried, flatmate and several other close friends had all been wrongly listed as supporters of the campaign.

Stephen Donnelly, second year politics student at the University of Edinburgh said, “I was surprised and distressed to find my name so publicly associated with a homophobic campaign that seeks to restrict the rights of LGBT citizens across Scotland.

“It throws into question the whole ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign; who knows what other support may have been falsified?

“For instance, were the 28,000 “signed” postcards they submitted all signed by real people? If they are to salvage any credibility, they need to provide answers, fast”

The Equality Network and NUS Scotland have criticised the ‘Scotland for Marriage’ campaign for the petition’s false entries.

The website administrator said that the names had all been uploaded from the same computer and that the names have since been removed from the campaign’s website.

At the moment, only an email address is required to sign the online petition but ‘Scotland for Marriage’ said it would be looking into more stringent controls.

Colin Hart, a spokesperson for the campaign told The Scotsman, “Prior to this we’ve had people uploading obscene names, quite anti-Roman Catholic sentiment, pretty nasty stuff.

“Despite that we are determined to continue with our petition.

“We’ve removed those whose names have been added to the list without their knowledge.”

A government consultation in Scotland on same-sex marriage closed earlier this month.