The Muslim News - Muslim soldier ‘was fed pork sandwich’

Issue 217, Friday 25 May 2007 - 8 Jumad al-Awwal 1428

Muslim soldier ‘was fed pork sandwich’

By Elham Asaad Buaras

Colchester’s Military Corrective Training Centre has been accused of trying to feed a Muslim with a pork sandwich.
Saeed Akhtar is claiming that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) breached his rights under legislation covering discrimination because of religious beliefs while serving as a soldier.
On April 30, employment tribunal Chairman at Bury St Edmunds permitted Akhtar to take his case to a full tribunal hearing.
Akhtar is claiming the MoD had failed to provide him on a regular basis with suitable meat.
He told tribunal Chairman, Brian Mitchell, that officials had not provided Halal meat. That had forced him to adopt a largely vegetarian diet, said Akhtar. On one occasion he was given a pork sandwich.
Akhtar alleges that during his army career before being sent into the MCTC, Halal meat had rarely been available.
But Mitchell told him that the allegation could not form part of his case because it happened too long ago.
Akhtar said he had reported his concerns to the MCTC’s Independent Board of Visitors but they had not passed them on to the appropriate military authorities.
The MoD, which is denying the allegations, has admitted that there was a delay of eight-and-a-half weeks in organising with a contractor for the provision of Halal meat to the MCTC but say Akhtar’s rights were not breached.
Muslim Chaplain for the Armed Forces, Asif Hafiz, told The Muslim News it was “unfortunate that personnel of the Muslim faith had experienced a catering problem.
“There is small number of Muslims in the military and they are spread out so distribution from kitchens can be difficult.”
But he added that serving members of the military are well facilitated. “From my experience Muslims in the armed forces are well catered for once they have informed their superiors of their requirements and kitchens are provided with the appropriate catalogue. They are handed rationed packs labeled Halal even when they are serving.”
There are approximately 250 Muslims in the army, seventy in the Royal Air Force and 30 in the navy.

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