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I cannot shake your hand, sir. I'm a Muslim and you're a man
Last updated at 23:07pm on 20.01.07A Muslim woman police officer has sparked a new debate by refusing to shake hands with Britain's most senior police chief for religious reasons.
The incident happened at a passing-out parade where Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair was inspecting a line-up of 200 recruits.
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In addition to refusing a traditional congratulatory handshake from Sir Ian, the WPC - who wore a traditional Muslim hijab headscarf - also declined to be photographed with him as she did not want the picture used for 'propaganda purposes'.
The woman had earlier insisted that it was contrary to her religious teaching for her to touch a man.
Now The Mail on Sunday has learned that her gesture has sparked top-level discussions at Scotland Yard.
Some officers argue that her attitude towards men might impede her ability to detain offenders.
However, it is clear that she is happy to come into contact with men, just not shake their hand or kiss them.
An inquiry has now been launched and the unidentified WPC - described as 'a non-Asian Muslim' - could face the sack if it is considered that her strict religious beliefs prevent her performing as an effective police officer.
However, senior commanders are worried that dismissing her would deepen the atmosphere of mistrust between the police and the Muslim community.
The incident happened at Imber Court, Scotland Yard's sports and conference centre at Thames Ditton in South West London, when the 200 recruits attended a passing-out parade having completed their 18 weeks' basic training.
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. This has never happened before and he was bloody furious. But he agreed to go along with it so as not to cause a scene.
"He went out and shook the hand of every single new recruit apart from her. It was very obvious and very embarrassing.
"There was a great deal of discussion about it afterwards. People were asking how the hell is she going to make an arrest if she refuses to touch men."
Having completed her 18 weeks' initial training, the WPC has now been assigned to a West London police station as a beat bobby.
Like all newly qualified officers, she will remain on probation for two years to satisfy her superiors that she is suitable for the job.
A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said of the Imber Court incident on December 21 that normally the police would have refused a request not to shake Sir Ian's hand.
"It was only granted by members of training staff out of a desire to minimise any disruption to other people's enjoyment and to ensure the smooth running of what is one of the most important events in an officer's career,' she said.
"The commissioner did question the validity of this request and the matter is being looked at by the MPS."
The spokeswoman added 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'.
Asked about the officer's ability to make an arrest, she said: "There is a standard between personal and professional life. A passing-out parade is a personal event. You are not fulfilling a professional duty there."
Scotland Yard has allowed Muslim WPCs to wear an adaptation of the hijab since 2001.
But, despite a vigorous recruitment campaign, there are still only around 300 Muslims among the Met's 35,000 officers and fewer than 20 are women.
The incident is the latest in a series of 'political correctness' and race-related rows under Sir Ian's command at the Met.
Last October, at the height of the Israel-Lebanon conflict, PC Alexander Basha, 24, was moved from Diplomatic Protection Group duties at the Israeli Embassy because he feared his Lebanese relatives could be targeted if he was seen on TV.
In June 2005 Sir Ian was judged to have 'hung out to dry' three white detectives - who were accused of rudely mispronouncing "Shi'ites' - to prove his anti-racist credentials.
An employment tribunal said that while he was deputy commissioner in charge of discipline and diversity he had prejudiced disciplinary proceedings against the men because he wanted to make an example of them.
Reader views (11)
Dear Alaina, Canada & Margarette, Graz, Austria,
Please do not insult the intelligence of the readers and speak without knowledge regarding the religion of Islam. As for this issue not being in the Qur'an, who said the Qur'an is the only source of legislation? Ever heard of the Prophet Mohamed? He said:
“If one of you were to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle, that would be better for him than his touching a woman who is not permissible for him.” Source: Al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer, 486.
Some might say "What's the big deal with a woman shaking hands with a man..." Well, Islam believes that prevention is better than cure. If a person is prevented from even touching another whom they are not permitted Islamically to touch, how will it ever lead to vices such as fornication, adultery and sexual harassment which are so widespread?
Furthermore, whatever happened to "freedom of religion"? The West (in most cases) is big on making such claims yet when it comes to the crunch, Muslims trying to practice their religion are easily labeled as extreme.
The question is...why are people so hung up on another woman who wants to protect her rights and not touch another man? Are people that desensitised to the promiscuity that is rampant in our societies? If that's the case, you may need to question every nun and pope you come across and interrogate them in a similar manner.
- Mohamed, Sydney, Australia
I think its important to place in context Islam's reasons for not allowing members of the opposite sex to touch each other. From the research I have done, Islam is very strong on ensuring that members of the opposite sex treat each other with utmost respect and requires that Men respect women for their minds and not for their bodies. Thus Islam ensures that the relationship between Men and Women is strictly a professional one, wherein men are required to lower their gaze and not stare at women and visa versa. It also stipulates that members of the opposite sex are not allowed to touch those that aren't close relatives to them or their spouse.
For those who research this, the reason is purely to ensure that the social fabric remains in a pristine state, or else, where do you draw the line?
Alaina, I'm surprised you are ignorant of your own religion's rulings. The teachings of Islam are derived from the Quran and teh teaching sof the prophet. The Prophet says:
"It is better for one of you to be pierced by a steel pin in his head than to touch the hand of a strange woman."
This saying was adressed to men, so don't be hasty to take it out of context and brand it as being sexist.
Jose, I strongly encourage you to read up on the matter. Islam makes it clear that 'Necessity dictates exceptions to the rule'. I think its fair to say that shaking the police officer's hand wasn't a life threatening necessity.
I respect the woman for not compromising on her values.
- Dean Marshal, NT Australia
Wow!
What an arrogant woman!
Where in the Qur'an is it written that a woman cannot shake hands with a man who is not a relative? Even if you take what the Prophet said, which is that a man should not shake hands with a woman because (??somehow??) it soils him?!?! It is the woman who makes the man unclean not vice versa.
All that having been said, I have lived in many countries and although I don't always agree with the customs I go along with them because I made the choice to live there.
If I go to a country where I am forced to wear a hijab - I can make all the fuss I want to but I still have to wear it -
I live in Styria and we recently had a 'scandal', Muslim taxi drivers decided it was against their religion to drive a taxi with the Styrian license plate because it had a small cross on it; so many decided to deface government property by scratching out the cross...
Where will this nonsense end?
On another note, this woman chose to join a government service -
A GOVERNMENT SERVICE!
In what service can you disrespect a superior officer and not be disciplined?
This was the wrong time to make a stand for 'religious' beliefs, SHE created the mess, perhaps she should find another line of work.
- Margarette, Graz, Austria
I'd just like to point out that it's not against our religon (Islam) to shake hands with men. It's strictly a cultural thing. How is she supposed to make arrests to someone of the opposite sex if she refuses to touch them? A friendly hand shake with a man won't give her a VIP section in Hell. (A little humour over there, nothing to take seriously).
But if those are her beliefs, then I guess no one can do anything about that. I've known some religious Jewish men who refused to touch another women because of their beliefs.
Anyway, best of luck.
Peace.
- Alaina, Canada
Please let people live freely their religious principles! There is no shame in refusing to shake men's hands. She is absolutely right to practice her Religion wherever she may be. This is not a scandal! This woman officer must not be dismissed from her job just because she is a practicing Muslim woman.
Remember those naturalists who freely marched in the streets, all nacked to tell people about their rights to be naturalists. This appeared on TV news. Remember the story of that man who freely decided to run for about 3 months with nothing but a hat and a pair of boots! To name but these 2 examples. Please, let's be fair. If a Muslim lady or a Muslim man refuses to shake hands with you, take it easy, do not get frustrated,or shocked, or embarassed!Do not hate or discriminate him/her for her religious beliefs. If l do not shake your hand, you won't die anyway. Moreover, greetings and congratulations can be uttered by using warm, sincere and polite words to please the other. And as the woman officer said, her professional life is different from her personal one. So, let's be fair and tolerant! Believe in your Religion and let her believe in her Religion. Peace!
- Kebe, Dakar, Senegal
a pathetic infidel who expects everyone to shake his hand..i think it sums up the english condition, as is the illiteracy of posters:
"Asked about the officer's ability to make an arrest, she said: "There is a standard between personal and professional life. A passing-out parade is a personal event. You are not fulfilling a professional duty there.""
...they could not read english with comprehension. she can use it rather well!
ahah! maybe it is genie magic?
- Genie, manchester UK
Man, I hope she doesn't meet any man who needs immediate artifical breathing, because he'll be dead in seconds.
- Mmr, Egypt
We've had this issue come up at my workplace. It's really divisive and insulting.
- Mike Woodman, Bradford, UK
This officer already stated in the article that in her professional capcity to carry out arrest and help the public, there is no problem in making contact with a male, only in social/personnal situations will she not shake hands. There are plenty of female Muslim doctors who have the same principle, they still carry full examination of male patients, but will not shake hands with males in a social situation. Those who think they should, may i ask if you would force somone to hug you if they dont wish to? You can still politely greet someone without physical contact. I know that arab males greet by hugging and kissing on cheeks. (like the french) but i would not like to do this, and would be insulted if some one insisted i had to.
- Sean, Ireland
I would not want this WPC alongside me, in a sticky situation on the streets at night. She might come up with another excuse, and put the other officer in a bad situation, because of some other reason, that she hasn't dreamed up yet.
Crazy !
- Dave, Tennessee, USA
Whilst on the beat she meets a male who is seriously injured and needs placing in the recovery position a pressure pad or even cardiac massage. Will she assist?
- Jose, Wales
