Police officer who laughed with bystanders at Hitler lookalike may face action

German police have said they are considering disciplinary proceedings against an officer who failed to step in when an Adolf Hitler lookalike showed up at a motorbike meeting in the eastern state of Saxony.

State police said the incident is being investigated because the man dressed as the Nazi leader – sitting in a Wehrmacht-style sidecar – may have broken German laws on the use of illegal symbols.

A video posted on social media shows laughing bystanders, including an officer in a police van, photographing the biker and his pencil-moustached passenger.

In a post on Twitter, Saxony’s governor Michael Kretschmer said “the appearance as a mass murderer is more than tasteless”.

Mr Kretschmer said he hoped the biker meeting in Augustusburg, near the eastern city of Chemnitz, would take place again next year but that “first it needs to be clear: such behaviour is unacceptable and won’t happen again”.

Authorities in Saxony have struggled to combat the state’s image as a hive of neo-Nazi activity.

The far-right Alternative for Germany party received more than a quarter of the vote in state elections there last year.

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Categories: Adolf Hitler, Alternative for Germany, German Police, News, Saxony

All Faith Delegation Considers Going to Iran

Labour’s Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) raised the idea of a possible all-faith delegation, saying: “If we want peace we have got to carry on speaking to the Iranians, and all of us who’ve been campaigning for the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe and the other prisoners held, believe that perhaps speaking at a level of faith, an all-faith delegation going to Iran at the present time to speak to the faith leaders in Iran might actually… would he support that sort of delegation visiting Iran?”

Mr Sheerman said he had spoken to the Archbishop of Canterbury and it could take place.

Mr Raab said: “We need to keep the diplomatic lines of communication open… I sympathise very much with the spirit of the idea of an all-faith diplomatic initiative. I think right at the moment he will have seen that we advise through our Foreign Office travel advice against travel to Iran and I think for the moment that’s probably the safest bet.”

Tory Tom Tugendhat, foreign affairs committee chairman in the last parliament, said: “Reaching out through friends in the region… would be a good avenue for making sure that Iran, not only comes back into the fold and frees people from this awful tyranny, but perhaps also gives up the policy of hostage taking that has not just taken Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe away from her daughter, but many, many others and their families too.”

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Categories: Archbishop of Canterbury, Barry Sheerman, Iran, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, News

Vodafone advisor ‘laughed at Muslim customer for fasting in Ramadan’

The mobile giant Vodafone has denied claims that a Muslim customer was taunted and mocked for observing the holy month of Ramadan by staff when seeking to upgrade their phone contract.

Speaking to Tell MAMA last month, the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, described how spoke an Indian man about upgrading his contract on May 7, 2019, and, when asked by the customer advisor if he was Muslim, to which he confirmed, the customer advisor then laughed and said, “You must be hungry because it’s your fasting month”. He added that he heard other members of staff laughing during the phone call, which he challenged, informing them it was ‘none of their business’.

Nor did he feel like Vodafone had listened to his complaints.

Tell MAMA approached Vodafone for comment earlier this week and informed that an internal investigation found ‘no evidence’ of racism, but assured confirmed that an independent third-party will review the complaint.

A Vodafone spokesperson told Tell MAMA: “Vodafone does not tolerate racist or abusive behaviour by any employee. Our third party partner has carried out internal investigations and their findings show no racist language was used by the advisor.

The case has now been moved to CISAS, an independent alternative dispute resolution provider, we will react accordingly based on their conclusions”.

Vodafone, like other service providers, allows customers to raise complaints online or over the phone.

Resolver provides free information on consumer support issues and allows individuals to make complaints online.

Citizens Advice also offer a consumer helpline where individuals can speak with trained advisers over the phone or online.

You can get advice from our confidential and free helpline on 0800 456 1226. Or through our free iOS or Android apps. Report through our online form. Or contact us via WhatsApp on 0734 184 6086.

 

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Categories: customer service, News, Ramadan, Vodafone