Author: Michael Horsnell
Publication: The Times, UK
Date: May 14, 2002
A Muslim traffic warden yesterday
lost a legal claim that a Christian cross on his uniform discriminated
against his faith.
M'hammed Azzoui, a Moroccan, took
exception to the badge worn by London's 500 Metropolitan police wardens
on their caps because it featured a 5mm cross inside the Queen's crown.
Mr. Azzaoui, 38 also complained
about the silver buttons on his uniform because they carried an even smaller
version of the image.
In case that cost taxpayers an estimated
5,000 in legal fees, it emerged that at one stage, officials ordered alternative
insignia to be designed for staff objecting to the uniform on religious
ground.
But Mr Azzaoui, from Barking, east
London resigned in protest last July, shortly before the end of a five-week
training course. He was subsequently told he could resume his training
without the badge and buttons, amide a string of concession, but he declined.
Represented by a law centre he then
mounted a "trivial and vexatious" employment tribunal claim for race discrimination.
Mr Azzaoui agreed to drop his claim yesterday, Minster before it was to
be heard.
In return the police agreed to ask
the tribunal in Croydon, south London, for only nominal costs of 200 against
him. Carol Taylor, the tribunal chairman branded him "unreasonable" for
pressing his claim after his demand were met.
Dijen Basu, the police barrister,
said Mr Azzaoui had made many special requests. He said: "he asked not
to be roistered to work on Fridays and that was agreed. He asked that he
be sable to pray at lunchtimes and they agreed to that."
Me Basu said that when students
were asked to senior staff and show respect to a senior staff member entering
a room, Mr Azzoui said he was "a Muslim who could not rise to respect to
a non-divine person".
Me Basu added: "It is patently obvious
why the Met has the Christian cross on its insignia. Traffic wardens are
employees of the crown."
The Metropolitan police deputy commissioner
has now ruled that staff of different religious faith need not wear the
badge or buttons.
