West Midlands Police’s Ramadan initiative has reignited debate over whether public institutions are accommodating the religion or actively promoting it.
A combination of higher birthrates and mass immigration means that Europe and the United Kingdom are becoming increasingly Muslim. Many are entering the workforce, including as public servants. It is a worthy goal to aspire to peaceful coexistence, but in some cases Islam is being actively promoted in a way that goes beyond that.
Many private companies already accommodate the religious needs of their Muslim employees by providing prayer facilities or flexible arrangements for daily prayers, as well as funding iftar dinners during Ramadan. This is something most other religions do not demand or even ask for.
It has now emerged that in Britain the West Midlands Police Force has invited non-Muslim officers and staff to fast during Ramadan in an “act of solidarity”. The Telegraph broke the story, revealing that non-Muslim colleagues were also fasting during Ramadan across other public services, such as local councils.
The controversy is particularly striking because it involves West Midlands Police, which has repeatedly faced criticism over the way it has dealt with Islamic issues in recent years. The force has been accused of placing an excessive emphasis on diversity and inclusion while failing at core policing responsibilities.
Doubts Raised About Effectiveness
The documents revealing this were published by The Telegraph after a freedom of information request to New Forest Council. The council’s diversity training cited West Midlands Police as an example of best practice on inclusion.
The memo stated that the police force provided “flexi-working arrangements” for Muslim staff during Ramadan, so they could spend more time with their families. It also praised the way that some of the non-Muslim staff were joining in with fasting, claiming it created a “family feel” in the force.