Cop quits after giving insulting gift to Muslim

[MozzaBedfordSpur]

Has the world gone mad?

www.bedsonsunday.com/bedsonsunday%2Dnews/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=246208

A police officer has resigned after he gave a Muslim colleague a pack of bacon and a bottle of wine as a 'secret Santa' present during a Christmas party.

The victim, understood by this newspaper to be a PC Mahmood, was presented with the offensive gift on Christmas Eve.

The colleague behind the anonymous prank, which happened in front of fellow police officers and supervisors at Luton, did not own up immediately, but subsequently resigned during his section's next working shift on December 28.

The Koran prohibits the consumption of pork and alcohol - and even coming into contact with them is considered insulting by some Muslims.

Mobeen Qureshi, secretary and co-ordinator of Luton Asian community group Khidmat,believes the severity of the gesture cannot be understated.

"It is not acceptable to be given this. A true Muslim wouldn't touch them and I would be very offended and angry if I was given them.

"The Asian community has a good relationship with the police and I have worked with the them for a long time.

"But we have realised that some of these sorts of people have infiltrated the police force. It is very unfortunate that this incident happened."

The incident happened in the year that a report rated Bedfordshire Police the worst force in the country - and its low intake of ethnic employees was given as one reason for this ranking.

In fact the latest performance report to Bedfordshire Police Authority in December stated that no officers from ethnic minority backgrounds were recruited by the force over the last year.

The report prompted police authority chairman Peter Conniff to say: "Part of the problem is that there are very few applicants from ethnic minority backgrounds.

"It is surprising, considering the ethnic make-up of Luton and Bedford.

"We need to try to encourage more every way we can." The force denies that racism is prevalent and a police spokeswoman said this was a one-off incident between individuals.

A police spokeswoman said: "Although this matter was intended as a joke between officers,Bedfordshire Police takes seriously its obligations as an organisation which not only serves, but employs, a diverse range of staff from the county's wide mix of backgrounds.

"Behaviour of this nature is not tolerated and after the incident was brought to the attention of senior managers, the officer concerned chose to resign with immediate effect. His decision is welcomed by the force."

[CHOPPER READ]

How many young Muslims do you see pissed up in town at a weekend?

[MozzaBedfordSpur]

markbrandonread said:

How many young Muslims do you see pissed up in town at a weekend?

Loads and carrying knives.

[Arnold]

Should expect to see the burning of the St George cross and a jihad waged against the police later with cars getting firebombed then.

[Neko Bazu]

I read this in the Luton on Sunday; personally, I think it was a bit stupid at best. I mean, what was the point, and what did he expect the outcome to be? If the guy who got the gift takes his religion seriously - as older muslims tend to - then it really is out of order.

[jh1980]

I agree with Neko.

Though I'm torn, part of me also thinks that was funny as fuck!

[Arnold]

neko said:

I read this in the Luton on Sunday; personally, I think it was a bit stupid at best. I mean, what was the point, and what did he expect the outcome to be? If the guy who got the gift takes his religion seriously - as older muslims tend to - then it really is out of order.

It was a bit of a silly thing to do. I cannot believe they did not know each other well enough beforehand for the Muslim chap just to tell him he found it offensive. I mean if it was that bad, why the hell was the Muslim doing the Secret Santa? Has he not read the Quran? He will go to hell for acknowledging another religions festivities!

[Neko Bazu]

jh1980 said:

I agree with Neko.

Though I'm torn, part of me also thinks that was funny as fuck!

I can see why some might find it funny, but it just doesn't tickle me. Personal tastes and all that.

[Neko Bazu]

arniepie said:

neko said:

I read this in the Luton on Sunday; personally, I think it was a bit stupid at best. I mean, what was the point, and what did he expect the outcome to be? If the guy who got the gift takes his religion seriously - as older muslims tend to - then it really is out of order.

It was a bit of a silly thing to do. I cannot believe they did not know each other well enough beforehand for the Muslim chap just to tell him he found it offensive. I mean if it was that bad, why the hell was the Muslim doing the Secret Santa? Has he not read the Quran? He will go to hell for acknowledging another religions festivities!

It doesn't actually say the Muslim guy complained though.

[Arnold]

neko said:

arniepie said:

It was a bit of a silly thing to do. I cannot believe they did not know each other well enough beforehand for the Muslim chap just to tell him he found it offensive. I mean if it was that bad, why the hell was the Muslim doing the Secret Santa? Has he not read the Quran? He will go to hell for acknowledging another religions festivities!

It doesn't actually say the Muslim guy complained though.

Good point. Well if it was one of the other English chaps they have overreacted as usual. Either way it is a poor state of affairs for this to have happened. You need as many cops on the beat as possible round your way to keep the hoolies in check! ;D

[jh1980]

neko said:

I can see why some might find it funny, but it just doesn't tickle me. Personal tastes and all that.

I'm sorry to say though that this seems to me a perfect opportunity for those who complain about double standards to speak up.

There is a tension between liberalism - requiring ostensible respect for all religions and socialism - which does not recognise the worth of any religion. This is currently a big matter for debate within the left. So there are some who think we should not make allowances for religious offences - whatever the religion. Then of course some halfwit will conflate issues of race, ethnicity and religion, and then you can't have a sensible discussion.

[CHOPPER READ]

neko said:

I read this in the Luton on Sunday; personally, I think it was a bit stupid at best. I mean, what was the point, and what did he expect the outcome to be? If the guy who got the gift takes his religion seriously - as older muslims tend to - then it really is out of order.

Thing is you can bend over backwards to accomodate other religions without ever getting the same from them.

[MozzaBedfordSpur]

Also I find it hypocritical that a lot of convenience stores owned or managed by Muslim's have no issue in selling alcohol or bacon in their shops.

Now is that a double standard or not?

[Neko Bazu]

jh1980 said:

neko said:

I can see why some might find it funny, but it just doesn't tickle me. Personal tastes and all that.

I'm sorry to say though that this seems to me a perfect opportunity for those who complain about double standards to speak up.

There is a tension between liberalism - requiring ostensible respect for all religions and socialism - which does not recognise the worth of any religion. This is currently a big matter for debate within the left. So there are some who think we should not make allowances for religious offences - whatever the religion. Then of course some halfwit will conflate issues of race, ethnicity and religion, and then you can't have a sensible discussion.

Well, for me personally, I'm all up for whatever as long as it isn't meant to cause offence. If there's a cultural misunderstanding, then fine - explain, apologise, learn for next time. There's a bit of a difference between, say, offering to buy someone a beer unthinkingly and what is an obvious pre-meditated act though.

The PC brigade really need their arses kicking at times, but at the same time you can't deny they've done a fair bit to bring equality closer to realisation. They just leap on every ridiculously small thing now, it seems.

[jh1980]

markbrandonread said:

Thing is you can bend over backwards to accomodate other religions without ever getting the same from them.

Yeah I was making this point (along with others in a more waffly way!)

[Arnold]

morrissey said:

Also I find it hypocritical that a lot of convenience stores owned or managed by Muslim's have no issue in selling alcohol or bacon in their shops.

Now is that a double standard or not?

Indeed. My local corner shop sells me booze at any time day or night therefore also flouting UK Alcohol laws! I like him for that though ;D

[Neko Bazu]

markbrandonread said:

neko said:

I read this in the Luton on Sunday; personally, I think it was a bit stupid at best. I mean, what was the point, and what did he expect the outcome to be? If the guy who got the gift takes his religion seriously - as older muslims tend to - then it really is out of order.

Thing is you can bend over backwards to accomodate other religions without ever getting the same from them.

You hardly have to bend over backwards to not give a Muslim bacon though. That's my point - had it been a mistake, it'd be one thing, but he's gone out of his way to do it, which is another story.

It'd be the same as a Muslim giving a Christian a model depicting Christ, with a huge nail driven through its face. "Oh, sorry mate, thought it'd be funny."

It really isn't.

[jh1980]

neko said:

Well, for me personally, I'm all up for whatever as long as it isn't meant to cause offence. If there's a cultural misunderstanding, then fine - explain, apologise, learn for next time. There's a bit of a difference between, say, offering to buy someone a beer unthinkingly and what is an obvious pre-meditated act though.

The PC brigade really need their arses kicking at times, but at the same time you can't deny they've done a fair bit to bring equality closer to realisation. They just leap on every ridiculously small thing now, it seems.

I'd imagine the extent of the offence wasn't thought about. People can be thoughtless, after all. But also why should we credit that offence? - in a perfect world we'd say to anyone who was upset by a slight on their religion - "lighten up and get over it!"

Well exactly, nobody knows where to stop, and it could all end up undone as so many people are pissed off with being told what you "can't say or think cos it's offensive"

This isn't my usual position I grant you but it is making sense to me right now so I'm going with it...

[CHOPPER READ]

neko said:

markbrandonread said:

Thing is you can bend over backwards to accomodate other religions without ever getting the same from them.

You hardly have to bend over backwards to not give a Muslim bacon though. That's my point - had it been a mistake, it'd be one thing, but he's gone out of his way to do it, which is another story.

It'd be the same as a Muslim giving a Christian a model depicting Christ, with a huge nail driven through its face. "Oh, sorry mate, thought it'd be funny."

It really isn't.

I wasn't only refering to Muslims. Most religious zealots are the same.

[CHOPPER READ]

jh1980 said:

markbrandonread said:

Thing is you can bend over backwards to accomodate other religions without ever getting the same from them.

Yeah I was making this point (along with others in a more waffly way!)

You need to get more to the point rather than showing off your grasp of linguistics.