Muslim woman police officer in UK sparks row for refusing handshake

Muslim woman police officer in UK had refused to shake hands with London's police chief during a graduation ceremony last month due to her religious beliefs, sparking a new debate in Britain over the integration of Muslims into the majority-Christian British society, Police said Sunday.

“Ordinarily the (police force) would not tolerate such requests. This request was only granted ... to ensure the smooth running of what is one of the most important events in an officer’s career,” said a Metropolitan Police spokeswoman, noting that the incident, which sparked top-level discussions at Scotland Yard, is still being looked into by the force.

She pointed out that the officer has completed all basic training, including the safety course "which requires recruits to come into physical contact with each other regardless of gender".

The incident occurred during a passing-out parade where Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair was inspecting a line-up of 200 recruits.

The woman, whose identity hadn’t been revealed yet, asked to be excused from the customary handshake with Metropolitan Police Commissioner during the ceremony, arguing her religious beliefs prohibited her from touching a foreign man.

She also refused to be photographed with him, justifying that by saying that she doesn’t want the picture to be used for ‘propaganda purposes’.

A senior police source said: “Before Sir Ian arrived she told her training supervisor that she was not going to shake his hand because it was against her religion.

“She also said she did not want her picture taken with the commissioner because they would only use it for propaganda.

“Sir Ian was informed on his arrival of the officer’s request.

The woman described as ‘a non-Asian Muslim’, who wore a traditional Muslim Hijab, could be sacked if it is considered that her religious beliefs will stand as an obstacle in her performing as an effective police officer.

But senior commanders raised concerns over the possibility of sacking the woman, who's assigned to a West London police station as a beat bobby after having completed her 18 weeks’ initial training, as it would increase the growing mistrust between the police and the Muslim community.

-- AJP and agencies