LONDON – Hasanali Khoja, a Muslim chef, is suing Britain’s largest police force, claiming he suffered religious discrimination because he was expected to cook bacon and pork sausages for breakfast, The National reported on May 9. Mr Khoja, whose claim is being backed by both the Association of Muslim Police and the National Black Police Association, says he was refused permission not to handle pork when he took a job as catering manager at a police headquarters in west London. 

Instead, he said his supervisor suggested he wear gloves when preparing a “999 breakfast” – a policeman’s favorite that includes bacon, pork sausages and black pudding, which is made from pigs’ blood. The Metropolitan Police has had an uneasy relationship with Muslims in recent times. Tarique Ghaffur, an assistant commissioner with the force and the UK’s highest ranking Muslim police officer, last year accused the force of racial discrimination. He retired last November after receiving compensation.