By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-11-20 09:21:07 | Updated at 2024-11-20 11:36:54
2 hours ago
The police force who are probing a journalist for allegedly inciting racial hatred has failed to investigate a controversial Iman who called for “Zionists” to be eliminated.
Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha Muhammad was flagged to Essex Police after footage emerged of the Iman saying that those who support the existence of Israel should be “punished”.
The force was urged to “investigate” the remarks by users online, who tagged Essex Police on social media.
However, the force said that the remarks - made last year during a sermon in Chelmsford - could not be used as a report of crime. They said crimes can only investigate and assess potential crimes if they are reported by phone or through its website.
Shaykh Shams Ad-Duha Muhammad was flagged to Essex Police, the force investigating Allison Pearson
Getty/YouTube - Cambridge Central Mosque/GB News
Essex Police has recently come under fire after they sent officers to journalist Allison Pearon’s house on Remembrance Sunday
PA
The force receives around 90,000 engagements from the public across its social media platforms every year, meaning it is difficult to spot reports of crimes from a post.
The Iman has made numerous controversial comments in the past. In 2013, he said that Muslim girls should focus on having children rather than careers, and also labelled homosexuality a “vice among vices”.
In 2022, after being flagged to the police after various remarks, residents in Chelmsford were told that no criminal offences had taken place.
“As you will be aware, the footage is a compilation of numerous excerpts of interviews and recorded preaching in which views that may be contrary to the beliefs of others are outlined,” the officer wrote.
“The rights of all individuals to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which includes in public or private, and in worship, teaching practice and observance is one that is enshrined under Article Nine of the Human Rights Act.
Allison Pearson is under investigation under section 17 of the Public Order Act 1986 relating to material allegedly 'likely or intended to cause racial hatred'
GETTY
“And whilst you are of course afforded the right to disagree with the views of others where no legislative UK criminal offences have taken place, either through the words used or conduct displayed, then as the police we are unable to take any action.”
Yesterday, it was revealed that Essex Police has recorded over 1,500 non-crime incidents in the span of two years, though failed to answer non-emergency calls in a “swift” manner during the same period.
In data obtained by Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from The Times, the force logged 702 non-crime hate incidents between June 2023 and June 2024, and 834 the year prior.
In a separate police watchdog inspection, it was discovered that the force fails to “promptly resolve non-emergency calls”.
The investigation found that the slow response time could “contribute to a loss of confidence in the service”.
