05 October 2006
London's police chief has launched an urgent review of a decision not to post a Muslim police constable at Israel's embassy in the British capital after a newspaper reported that he had been excused 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," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said in a statement. "The Sun" newspaper reported that constable Alexander Omar Basha had told his bosses he was unable to help guard the embassy in west London because he morally objected to Israel's war against Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. Police chiefs excused Basha last week but critics said they feared it would open the floodgates for officers of any religion or belief to refuse to carry out certain duties. John O'Connor, a former Metropolitan Police flying squad commander, told the "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? This decision is going to allow officers to work in a discriminating and racist way." The police said in a separate statement that officers occasionally asked to be moved from a specific duty. Basha is attached to the force's diplomatic protection group.
