Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London

[N.O.R.F]

Inquiry into embassy police row

 

An inquiry has been ordered by Met Police chief Sir Ian Blair after a Muslim constable was excused from guarding the Israeli embassy in London.

Sir Ian says he wants an "urgent review of the situation and a full report".

 

The Sun newspaper said the officer was reassigned on "moral grounds" as he objected to Israeli actions in Lebanon.

 

But the Association of Muslim Police Officers said it was a "welfare issue" - the officer had Middle Eastern relatives and felt unsafe in that role.

 

The officer, who has been named as Pc Alexander Omar Basha, is attached to the Scotland Yard's Diplomatic Protection Group.

 

He has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife.

 

During the summer, when Israel was involved in a month-long conflict with Lebanese militants, Pc Basha asked to be moved from the Israeli embassy because he felt uncomfortable and unsafe.

 

Now the conflict is over, the Association of Muslim Police Officers - which is speaking on his behalf - said he was happy to return to protecting the Israel embassy if he was asked to.

 

Oath of allegiance

 

Supt Dal Babu, from the association, said the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with religion or politics.

 

"This is an issue around the welfare of a particular officer," he said.

 

"The officer is from the Middle East. He has relatives [who] are Muslims and Christians and for welfare reasons he's asked to be posted elsewhere for a short period of time."

 

A Scotland Yard spokesman said they would sometimes consider a special request to be moved on moral grounds - but added they reserved the right to post an officer anywhere.

 

The Metropolitan Police Authority, which oversees the force's work, pointed out that police officers took an oath of allegiance.

 

The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs.

[Cara.]

Supt Dal Babu, from the association, said the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with religion or politics.

What's the inquiry for then?

[N.O.R.F]

Its an 'opportunity'. An opportunity to beat the drums in the usual sensationalist ways only the British Media know.

[N.O.R.F]

Met orders review after Muslim refuses to guard Israeli embassy

 

Fred Attewill

Thursday October 5, 2006

The Guardian

 

 

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan police commissioner, last night ordered an urgent review of a policy that allows officers to refuse certain duties on moral grounds after a decision to excuse a Muslim policeman from guarding the Israeli embassy.

PC Alexander Omar Basha, who is attached to the force's Diplomatic Protection Group, objected to being posted to protect Israel's embassy in central London from possible terrorist attack because he disagreed with the country's bombing of Lebanon. The officer had reportedly attended a recent anti-war protest.

 

A spokesman for Scotland Yard said Sir Ian had ordered a rethink of the service's policy to consider special dispensations on moral grounds.

"Having learned of this issue I have asked for an urgent review of the situation and a full report into the circumstances," he said. A Met spokesman earlier said allowances were occasionally granted to officers who objected to duties on moral grounds.

 

"In terms of the general protocol for officers requesting to be moved for any reason we'd say that on occasions, for a variety of reasons, an officer may have to be moved within a specific command," the spokesman said. "Each case is considered separately, balancing the needs of the Metropolitan police service against those of the individual and the role which they will have to perform."

 

The case has provoked unease from those who worry that officers may be able to start picking and choosing their duties. John O'Connor, a former Flying Squad commander, told today's Sun: "This is the beginning of the end for British policing. If they can allow this, surely they'll have to accept a Jewish officer not wanting to work at an Islamic national embassy? Will Catholic cops be let off working at Protestant churches. Where will it end?"

 

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You see how he now 'refused' to work there even though he ASKED to be 'excused'

[ElPunto]

^Well - they may certainly beat the drums - but if there is any possiblity that the man refused to do his job because of religious or nationalistic reasons - those beating the drums certainly have a case.

 

We don't know the facts yet - but it would be outrageous that someone would refuse to guard a building simply because he objected to the objections of those he was guarding.