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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into embassy police row | Inquiry into embassy police row |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 | Oath of allegiance |
| Supt Dal Babu, from the association, said the officer's reassignment had nothing to do with religion or politics. | 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. | "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." | "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. | The authority, which has also asked for a report, said officers often had to undertake duties where the subject conflicted with their personal beliefs. |