Key Takeaways
- The National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) published an official document labeling Israel a “Zionist terrorist group” and defending Hamas, which was later removed from the group’s website.
- The document claimed Zionism is a form of anti‑Muslim hatred, accused “Zionists” of misusing the Holocaust, and dismissed unverified reports of Hamas atrocities on 7 October.
- Jewish advocacy groups, including the Campaign Against Antisemitism and the Jewish Board of Deputies, condemned the text as extremist, demanded an official investigation, and called for the dismissal of officers involved.
- The controversy emerged alongside widespread public outrage over body‑camera footage showing police handcuffing a dying white teenager, Henry Nowak, while speaking calmly with his Sikh attacker, reigniting accusations of “two‑tier” policing in Britain.
- While the College of Policing acknowledges NAMP as an important part of the workforce, it has not endorsed the document’s contents, and senior police leaders face pressure to restore confidence among Jewish communities and address perceived bias in policing practices.
Overview of the Controversy
The Daily Mail reported that the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP) in the United Kingdom issued an official policy document that described Israel as a “Zionist terrorist group” and defended Hamas. The document, which has since been taken down from NAMP’s website, was signed by then‑NAMP president Khaldoun Kabbani and framed as part of the organization’s effort to “confront anti‑Muslim hatred” in Britain. Its publication sparked immediate concern about the impartiality of Muslim police officers when interacting with the Jewish community.
Specific Claims Made in the NAMP Document
According to the report, the document characterized Zionism as “one of the manifestations of anti‑Muslim hatred.” It went on to accuse “Zionists” of “misusing the Holocaust” when discussing the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict. Regarding the 7 October Hamas‑led attacks, the text claimed that Israel “began circulating alarming and unverified stories about acts of violence by Hamas, including claims of beheadings and assaults,” effectively dismissing credible reports of atrocities as propaganda. These assertions directly contradict widely accepted historical and factual accounts of both the Holocaust and the October 7 massacre.
Discovery, Removal, and Media Exposure
The existence of the document was first highlighted last year by the conservative magazine The Spectator. After the Daily Mail’s Saturday exposé, NAMP removed the file from its online repository, but the damage had already been done. The Mail’s report included excerpts showing the group’s official stance, prompting a rapid backlash from Jewish organizations and prompting questions about how such a text could have been approved and disseminated through a police‑affiliated channel.
Response from the Campaign Against Antisemitism
Stephen Silverman, director of investigations and enforcement at the Campaign Against Antisemitism, denounced the document as an “extremist screed” and argued that those responsible for publishing it on the official police.uk domain are unfit to serve as officers. He urged immediate investigations by each force’s professional standards department and called for the dismissal of anyone involved in drafting or approving the material. Silverman warned that the text exemplifies “police acquiescence to Islamist extremism” and warned that faith in policing among British Jews has plummeted to its lowest recorded level.
Statement from the Jewish Board of Deputies
The Jewish Board of Deputies issued a statement labeling the document “full of falsehoods,” particularly regarding Jewish identity, history, and the nature of antisemitism. The board warned that if the material is being circulated among officers, it poses a direct threat to the integrity of policing and erodes trust between British Jews and law enforcement. It pledged to engage with relevant police and governmental bodies to determine how the document originated, how it has been used, and what steps are needed to restore confidence.
College of Policing’s Position
The College of Policing, the independent body responsible for setting the police code of ethics in Britain, described NAMP as “an important part of policing” that plays “a crucial role in supporting our workforce.” While the College did not endorse the controversial document, it refrained from issuing a direct condemnation, instead emphasizing the value of diverse staff associations. This measured response has been criticized by advocacy groups who argue that stronger leadership is needed to reject extremist narratives outright.
The Henry Nowak Stabbing Incident and Public Outrage
A week before the NAMP story resurfaced, body‑camera footage showed 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak, a white teenager, being stabbed repeatedly by 23‑year‑old Sikh man Vickrum Singh Digwaan. The video captures officers speaking calmly with the attacker while handcuffing Nowak, who lay on the ground and died within minutes from blood loss. The footage ignited fury across social media and news outlets, with many viewers accusing the police of exhibiting a “two‑tier” approach—being lenient toward suspects from minority backgrounds while treating white victims more harshly.
Accusations of Two‑Tier Policing in the UK
The Nowak case revived longstanding allegations that British police apply differing standards based on the ethnicity or religion of those involved. Critics contend that officers often show excessive restraint when dealing with suspects from “diverse” communities, whereas they appear more prone to use force or assert authority against white individuals. This perception has contributed to declining public trust, especially among communities that feel either over‑policed or under‑protected, depending on the narrative.
Broader Implications for Police Legitimacy
The convergence of the NAMP document controversy and the Nowak footage underscores a crisis of legitimacy for UK policing. Jewish communities worry that internal police associations may be disseminating antisemitic tropes under the guise of anti‑racism work, while broader public concerns about biased treatment threaten the principle of equal protection under the law. Restoring confidence will likely require transparent investigations, accountability for those who produced extremist material, and concrete reforms to ensure consistent, impartial policing irrespective of the suspect’s or victim’s background.
Moving Forward: Calls for Action
Advocacy groups are urging the Home Secretary to intervene, demanding a clear message that extremist views have no place within police institutions. They recommend mandatory training on antisemitism and Holocaust education, independent audits of police association publications, and stricter vetting processes for individuals holding influential roles within such bodies. Only through decisive action can the police service begin to repair the fractured trust highlighted by both the NAMP document and the Henry Nowak tragedy.