Muslim PC sues after workmates 'laughed at his beard'

dailymail.co.uk ^ | 03/09/09 | Andrew Levy

[TornadoAlley3]

PC Javid Iqbal: 'My beard is an important part of my identity'

A Muslim police officer claims he was forced out of his job by colleagues who made fun of his beard and called him a 'f***ing Paki'.

PC Javid Iqbal, 38, said white officers openly discussed in front of him how they were ' better' than their ethnic-minority colleagues.

The married father of two also claims officers pulled faces at each other if told they had to go out on patrol with him and forced him to walk home from a job instead of picking him up.

Mr Iqbal says he was sacked after fellow-officers in Luton launched a 'smear and witch-hunt campaign' during which they lodged a string of complaints about his performance.

He is taking the Bedfordshire force to an employment tribunal claiming he is the victim of racial and religious discrimination and unfair dismissal.

The claims will add to concern about institutional racism in police forces.

An employment tribunal in London recently heard evidence that an 'apartheid culture' was operated at Belgravia police station, with separate vans for white and black staff.

[muawiyah]

Guy's beard looks weird.

[LeoWindhorse]

does this beard clip on behind the ears?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

It looks like one of those fake beards in “Life of Brian”. Take me to court, I’ll laugh at it there!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Must be the elastic band holding it on that made them laugh.

[ml/nj]

A Muslim police officer claims he was forced out of his job by colleagues who made fun of his beard and called him a 'f***ing Paki'.

Yeah, so? Isn't the truth a defense in the UK?

ML/NJ

[Roger_Wildcat]

It does look funny!

[metmom]

His co-workers have a point.....

[Markos33]

He’d have to take that silly thing off before
I’d go on patrol with him.

[max americana]

> PC Javid Iqbal, 38, said white officers openly discussed in front of him how they were ‘ better’ than their ethnic-minority colleagues.

I thought the whites were the ethic-MINORITY in the UK?

[Balding_Eagle]

Look at the picture! LOL!

[eyedigress]

He’s a “parts his hair in the middle” dope smoker.

[vox_freedom]

He combs his arm hair? What is funny about that?

[dighton]

Stoning

[Political Junkie Too]

It's like how everyone in Iraq had Saddam-mustaches.

-PJ

[OCC]

It does look funny, no matter what his ethnicity.

[denydenydeny]

It’s like a Monty Python sketch come to life.

[OCC]

He should have been Amish.

[Dallas59]

Over the top at calling him a “f***ing Paki”.

[AGreatPer]

Looks like a poor photoshop.

Just imagine what the general public said about this guy.

[Slings and Arrows]

He took off the Groucho nose and glasses for the photo.

---

[Oztrich Boy]

OK I'm laughing too.

It's a fake with two hooks that go over the ears, right?

[Clock King]

"It's the beard comb-under, isn't it?!"

[LifeComesFirst]

What kind of cop wants to give perps something to rip off?

Anyway, his co-workers are rude, if what he says is true.

[Political Junkie Too]

He should have been Amish.

Or Hasidic.

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

Maybe there is hope for England.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

That beard makes you want to pull on it to see if it snaps back.

I have to side with the people who laughed. He made himself look goofy.

[BunnySlippers]

Ha ha! Funny beard ...

[Slings and Arrows]

That beard makes you want to pull on it to see if it snaps back.

Even Islamic Rage Boy would say "Dude, razor."

[MTMS]

ohmigosh, I like a nice beard but that thing is a RUG!

[metmom]

If they did.....

[metmom]

I have to side with the people who laughed. He made himself look goofy.

I detect a set up....

[Slings and Arrows]

An employment tribunal in London recently heard evidence that an 'apartheid culture' was operated at Belgravia police station, with separate vans for white and black staff.

FWIW, Belgravia is London's most expensive neighborhood. Not sure if that's relevant, but...

[KoRn]

Damn! I can’t believe that thing’s real!

It almost looks photoshopped or something. LOL!!!

[Slings and Arrows]

If I said what it looked like I would get banned, but...yeah, it looks like he ordered it from a discount theatre supply catalog.

[muawiyah]

Has he got kids?

I think he overrates his ethnicity as a source of criticism. Besides, Pakis are, technically speaking, pretty doggone "white" ~ so was he complaining about UK "naaaaiiitives" or "other Pakis"?

Guy has a strange looking fake beard on and he's upset that people laugh at it.

[autumnraine]

That looks like that little toy you used the magnet to slide the tiny slivers of lead around the man’s face.

And I laughed too. Sue me.

[libh8er]

That’s a beard ? I thought it was a beehive stuck under his face.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I think you are right.

He could have done several things to make it look less odd.

[az.b1bbomberfxr]

I wonder if he has a BIGGUS DICKUS

[AndyTheBear]

His religion aside, that is a funny looking beard.

[Marie2]

Does he respect the beard of a Hasidic Jew? I’ll bet he doesn’t!

[AndyTheBear]

Over the top at calling him a “f***ing Paki”.

In my experience various inaproriate banter is the norm among soldiers. I can only surmise this extends to police officers.

Maybe it should be different, but it seems one neads a thick skin to earn respect in such venues.

[AndyTheBear]

Does he respect the beard of a Hasidic Jew? I’ll bet he doesn’t!

He very well might respect Jews more than he is supposed to. I find many individual Muslims I know do. Seems to me they are a watered down version of what Mohammed taught. Shouldn't suprise us, because there are a lot of water downed Jews who don't strive to follow the law of Moses, and a lot of watered down Christians who really don't strive to follow the example of Christ and so forth.

[Zack Attack]

Come on. Not intending to make fun, but that has to be a photoshop job, right?

[WildcatClan]

ZZ Top is not amused.

[aruanan]

It looks like an iron filing beard. Note to beardman—give a woman enough testosterone and she’ll grow one, too.

[Thumper1960]

Looks like I'm in the minority here.

I'd hope that each and every one has a certain amount of respect afforded them and everyone is allowed some personal dignity as we go through our daily lives.

The "f***ing Paki" seems to me to be no different than a comment such as "f***ing N*gg*r" would be in the USA.

I'd also hope that in an organization, such as a police department, there would be a form of respect for fellow officers. Some sort of "fraternal" bond whereby each can count on the other to watch their respective backs in times when life and limb are at stake.

Until one demonstrates they are not worthy of respect, such should be a given element.

[Morgana]

“Silence!...........I keel you!!!!”