Muslim guard excused from Israeli embassy duty

BRITISH police chiefs yesterday defended a decision to excuse a Muslim police officer from guarding the Israeli embassy.

Scotland Yard insisted the decision was “not about political correctness” but was based on “risk and safety”.

PC Basha, who is attached to the Metropolitan Police’s Diplomatic Protection Group, was said to have asked for permission not to work at the embassy in London.

The decision has attracted fierce criticism, with critics accusing senior Met officers of setting a “dangerous precedent” and of making a “serious error of judgment”.

But sources said the officer had not refused the posting on “moral grounds”.

He was apparently willing to take up the posting but was concerned about the safety implications for his family in the region if he was spotted guarding the embassy. He reportedly has a Syrian father and a Lebanese wife.

Dr Muhammad Abdul-Bari, secretary general of the Muslim Council of Britain, agreed that anyone who joined the police had a responsibility to discharge their duties without discrimination.

However, he said if there were “legitimate concerns” for the safety of family members overseas then those should be taken seriously.