http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstop … -rant.htmlRowan Laxton, 47, an expert on the Middle East, allegedly shouted "f*****g Israelis" "f*****g Jews" while watching television reports of the Israeli attack on Gaza in the gym.
He is also alleged to have said Israeli soldiers should be "wiped off the face of the earth" during the rant, which was overheard by staff and gym members.
A complaint was made to police and Mr Laxton was arrested for inciting religious hatred through threatening words and behaviour. He was subsequently bailed until late next month.
The maximum penalty for inciting religious hatred is a seven-year prison term or a fine or both.
Mr Laxton, who is still working normally, is head of the South Asia Group at the Foreign Office, on a salary of around £70,000.
He is responsible for all the UK's diplomacy in that area and for briefing Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is Jewish.
The alleged incident occurred after Mr Laxton went to the London Business School's gym in Regent's Park after work on January 27.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is too early to comment in detail on a matter that is currently the subject of police enquiries. But we take extremely seriously any allegation of inappropriate conduct on the part of our staff and continue to follow developments closely."
According to the Daily Mail, Mr Laxton has denied his comments were anti-Jewish but refused to answer when asked if they were anti-Israeli.
The Oxford graduate joined the diplomatic service in 1993 and rose rapidly through the ranks.
He ran the British High Commission in Pakistan for three years before moving to Afghanistan in 2001. He stayed in Kabul for two years, then returned to London. He was appointed head of his section last year.
Mr Laxton is believed to be separated from his wife, a banker who is working in the United Arab Emirates.
Pages: 1
- Index »
- Community »
- Debate and Serious Talk »
- Foreign Office diplomat arrested over 'anti-Semitic' rant
A case for early retirement with prejudice.
Getting mad at a TV and expressing a personal opinion warrants a jail term these days? Fascism-o-rama. If he goes down for seven years it will be a fucking travesty and a sad day for Western politics. Fair enough, his specific reference to Jews is offensive and racist but he wasn't shouting this from a soapbox, he was ranting at a TV while working out on his own private time.
Last edited by Braddock (2009-02-09 09:56:19)
He's a foreign secretary who just kinda showed his true colours.Braddock wrote:
Getting mad at a TV and expressing a personal opinion warrants a jail term these days? Fascism-o-rama. If he goes down for seven years it will be a fucking travesty and a sad day for Western politics. Fair enough, his specific reference to Jews is offensive and racist but he wasn't shouting this from a soapbox, he was ranting at a TV while working out on his own private time.
Then he should be asked to resign. Trumping up a charge of inciting religious hatred and slapping a 7 year prison sentence on him is like something you would see in Soviet Russia or Saudi Arabia. I've shouted that kind of stuff at my TV plenty of times (minus the bits specifically related to Jews - because religion and race have nothing to do with right and wrong), should I be locked up for seven years?M.O.A.B wrote:
He's a foreign secretary who just kinda showed his true colours.Braddock wrote:
Getting mad at a TV and expressing a personal opinion warrants a jail term these days? Fascism-o-rama. If he goes down for seven years it will be a fucking travesty and a sad day for Western politics. Fair enough, his specific reference to Jews is offensive and racist but he wasn't shouting this from a soapbox, he was ranting at a TV while working out on his own private time.
Public places should be different. I hate PC as much as the next guy, but there are limits.Braddock wrote:
Then he should be asked to resign. Trumping up a charge of inciting religious hatred and slapping a 7 year prison sentence on him is like something you would see in Soviet Russia or Saudi Arabia. I've shouted that kind of stuff at my TV plenty of times (minus the bits specifically related to Jews - because religion and race have nothing to do with right and wrong), should I be locked up for seven years?M.O.A.B wrote:
He's a foreign secretary who just kinda showed his true colours.Braddock wrote:
Getting mad at a TV and expressing a personal opinion warrants a jail term these days? Fascism-o-rama. If he goes down for seven years it will be a fucking travesty and a sad day for Western politics. Fair enough, his specific reference to Jews is offensive and racist but he wasn't shouting this from a soapbox, he was ranting at a TV while working out on his own private time.
Total bullshit.
If someone said "fucking Catholics should be wiped off the face..." Nothing would happen.
One rule for some, another rule for others.
If someone said "fucking Catholics should be wiped off the face..." Nothing would happen.
One rule for some, another rule for others.
No kidding... this is just as bad as when Muslims call for censorship over insulting Islam.BN wrote:
Total bullshit.
If someone said "fucking Catholics should be wiped off the face..." Nothing would happen.
One rule for some, another rule for others.
It looks like the Jews need to lighten up some too -- as well as their politically correct friends.
Make the guy resign, but don't prosecute him.
To be fair, we are all sub-human.BN wrote:
If someone said "fucking Catholics should be wiped off the face..." Nothing would happen.
One rule for some, another rule for others.
Fuck Israel
I've got to agree with Braddock, Turq, and to a lesser extent, BN here.
The guy should be fired, not jailed...is he related to Mel Gibson?
There are different rules for different groups. If he had shouted anything like that about muslims, Indians, blacks, asians or any other group, he would likely have been treated similarly.
If he had shouted the "Catholics" line from BN or denounced any other "majority" group, nothing would've happened.
The guy should be fired, not jailed...is he related to Mel Gibson?
There are different rules for different groups. If he had shouted anything like that about muslims, Indians, blacks, asians or any other group, he would likely have been treated similarly.
If he had shouted the "Catholics" line from BN or denounced any other "majority" group, nothing would've happened.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
People are entitled to opinions, no reason he should be fired over it.
If he had said something about muslims the Israelis would have wanted him promoted.
If he had said something about muslims the Israelis would have wanted him promoted.
Last edited by Dilbert_X (2009-02-10 04:55:57)
Fuck Israel
Not everyone is entitled to public opinions based on their position. Private opinions are another matter entirely.Dilbert_X wrote:
People are entitled to opinions, no reason he should be fired over it.
If he had said something about muslims the Israelis would have wanted him promoted.
“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular
It's along the same lines as the Dutch MP - it's the fact that he is in a public office and his views could be construed (rightly or wrongly) as official position.Dilbert_X wrote:
People are entitled to opinions, no reason he should be fired over it.
If he had said something about muslims the Israelis would have wanted him promoted.
I think one of the main conditions of the legal definition of inciting hatred is intent. From what it sounds like this person did not purposely make these comments to incite hatred. If that's the case with English law then I doubt the charge will stick.
Pages: 1
- Index »
- Community »
- Debate and Serious Talk »
- Foreign Office diplomat arrested over 'anti-Semitic' rant