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British Diplomat Charged Criminally For Anti-Semitic Outburst

By Howard M. Friedman

Today's London Mail reports that a high ranking diplomat in Britain's Foreign Office has been arrested on charges of inciting religious hatred through threatening words and behavior after an anti-Semitic outburst at the London Business School's gym. The incident occurred while Rowan Laxton, head of the Foreign Office's South Asia Group, was using an exercise bike and, at the same time, watching TV reports about Israeli attacks in Gaza. Laxton is married to a Muslim woman (but is believed to be separated from her) and has worked extensively in the Middle East and in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Inciting religious hatred is punishable by a fine and up to 7 years in prison. The arrest comes as Britain prepares to host next week an international summit on combating anti-Semitism.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 09, 2009 (boomark / email).