Sacked Muslim cop called "f***ing Paki" to sue UK police dept for racism

London, Mar. 10 (ANI): A Muslim cop has claimed that he was forced out of his job after his colleagues referred to him as "f***ing Paki", and poked fun at his beard.

Former PC Javid Iqbal alleged that Bedfordshire police officers of white ethnicity told him that they were superior to him, and hence forced him to walk home from jobs instead of sending a police car to pick him up.

The Sun quoted Iqbal, as saying, "My beard is an important part of my religion, my identity and my life. There is no other reason for me having a five-inch beard. I am proud of it and it was never a problem in the 18 months I served as a special constable.

I devoted myself to the force voluntarily before I became a PC. I believed in putting something back into society."

Iqbal had just returned to work after nine months leave on full pay with depression when he was given the boot for poor performance.

Bedfordshire Police stated: "A student officer's services were dispensed with in August 2008 on grounds of capability."

However, Iqbal claimed that he was sacked by Bedfordshire Police after fellow officers launched a "smear campaign" making complaints about his performance.

He said officers gave "negative statements" to superiors about him, including an allegation he failed to help a colleague arresting a violent man. He was cleared when CCTV showed he was dealing with other people.

"I'm disgusted I was bullied because of my beliefs. I've no doubt institutional racism played a part in this. White officers used to pull faces when they were asked to go on patrol with me," he said.

He will put his case to an employment tribunal, claiming religious and racial discrimination plus unfair dismissal, saying that shortly after he joined a PC training course in 2006, he became a victim of racial abuse. (ANI)