A Metropolitan Police officer who posted abusive tweets about Jewish and non-Muslim people has been found to have committed gross misconduct.
PC Ruby Begum, 29, admitted to a police misconduct hearing she used language such as “dirty Zionists” while serving as a special constable.
She also admitted using the term “kuffar” to refer to non-Muslims, and to making offensive comments about the September 11 terror attacks. PC Begum denied committing gross misconduct, telling the panel her behaviour amounted to simple misconduct and a final warning would be sufficient.
However, chair Evis Samupfonda said: “Misconduct would not be far enough. (The tweets) are racist, discriminatory and intolerant.”
The panel is considering what sanction PC Begum will face. This could include her being dismissed without notice.
Derogatory posts she made about Jewish people included: “Dirty Zionists. Hell is waiting” and “Zionists have no heart”.
When asked about these comments, she said they were about the Israeli government and the deaths of Palestinians and she “didn’t think it was a term of offence”.
“If I was describing Jewish people, I would just say Jewish people. I have nothing against Jewish people. I have no hate towards that group,” she said.
Ms Begum also made a series of posts about the September 11 attacks, which she told the panel were a response to the Islamophobic abuse that followed the attacks and were not mocking those who died.
