Friday, June 26, 2009

Muslim officer accused of sexism claims discrimination

A Muslim police officer, who claims a boss compared him to Osama Bin Laden, was fined for boasting about his sexual performance and use of Viagra, it emerged yesterday.

An employment tribunal heard how Pc Tariq Dost, 40, from Birmingham, who is claiming racial and religious discrimination against West Midlands Police, was fined 13 days’ pay and “came close to dismissal” over the incident.

Pc Dost was disciplined in October last year for discussing the sex drug with colleagues and telling one “she won’t be able to walk when you’re finished with her”.
He also admitted failing to act with respect towards a fellow officer after an incident in which he allegedly accused another Pc of planting drugs on a suspect.

The recruitment officer was also given managerial advice over his attitude to women, after allegedly discussing the size of a potential recruit’s breasts.

Detective Superintendent Piers Westlake, the acting head of disciplinary issues at West Midlands Police, said he regarded the complaints against Pc Dost as “very serious”.

“Pc Dost was a positive action officer,” he told the tribunal.

“His job was to mentor people to apply to the police force with particular focus on ethnic minorities and women.

“I was concerned about his credibility and, in particular, his attitude towards women.
“He seemed to be treating women with contempt, and his conduct warranted a disciplinary hearing.

“A 13-day fine is effectively a disciplinary panel saying you came as close to dismissal as possible.”

Pc Dost claims he has been racially discriminated against and says he feels “betrayed” by West Midlands Police.

He complained in November 2007 that the force’s acting recruitment marketing manager, Darren Yates, made racist remarks towards him.

He claims that Mr Yates compared his beard to Osama Bin Laden’s and referred to Muslim prayers as “shouting and wailing”.

Pc Dost also said Mr Yates laughed at the Islamic robes he wore to an event and told him: “You look like a terrorist.”

Mr Yates was removed from his acting position as marketing manager following the incident.

Muslim cop wins £11,000 payout for remarks that "left him feeling hurt, humiliated and depressed"

Imagine if you had £11,000 -- over $18,000 -- for every remark that left you feeling "hurt, humiliated and depressed." Lots of failed actors, rejected suitors and American Idol contestants would be very rich people today.

And do you think this chap would have been awarded $18,000 if he had been a non-Muslim police officer insulted by Muslims? Did Dost's offensive remarks to his female colleague cost him $18,000? If losing 13 days' pay cost him $18,000, then he must be pulling in a salary of around $500,000 a year. Not bad for a police officer.

A DEVOUT Muslim police officer who claims his boss compared him to Osama Bin Laden, mocked his beard and referred to his prayers as “shouting and wailing”, has won £11,000 in damages against West Midlands Police.

PC Tariq Dost, of Small Heath, said the comments made by his former line manager Darren Yates left him feeling hurt, humiliated and depressed.

An employment tribunal upheld PC Dost’s allegations that he had been treated with religious and racial discrimination and awarded the figure of £11,000 based on a psychiatric report measuring the scale of his hurt. Employment judge Hughes said: “The remarks made were offensive and more so because PC Dost is a very religious man.”...

But PC Dost, who was himself disciplined by West Midlands Police over his attitude towards women, had further allegations of victimisation rejected.

He claimed his punishment for remarks made towards a female colleague where he boasted about his sexual performance and use of Viagra was harsher than that doled out to Mr Yates. PC Dost was fined 13 days’ pay and removed from his post as positive action officer, where he mentored ethnic minorities and women to apply to the police force, after discussing the sex drug with colleagues and telling one she wouldn’t be able to walk when he’d finished with her....

PC Dost said he was saddened that the tribunal did not uphold his claims of victimisation and that a man who had been found to be racially discriminatory continued to work in recruitment. “It’s a point of concern for me and I’m sure it’s a point of concern for the people of the West Midlands,” he said....

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