A probe has been launched into a former policeman in charge of training new recruits to the force after a damning report revealed that he shared content describing Jews as “filth”.
Dr Rizwan Mustafa, founding chair of the West Midlands branch of the National Association of Muslim Police (NAMP), “shared conspiracy theories” about the origins of al-Qaeda and Islamic State, William Shawcross’ report on the government’s anti-terrorism Prevent strategy revealed earlier this month.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster has now launched an investigation into the former policeman following the revelations.
In a statement posted to Twitter, he said: “I am deeply concerned about this matter and am treating it with the utmost seriousness.
“I have immediately requested that West Midlands Police conduct an investigation into this matter and report to me as a matter of urgency, so that I can then determine the best course of action, based on the outcome of that investigation."
Having spent ten years working for the West Midlands Police, Mr Mustafa now serves as a regional course director at Staffordshire University, where he trains new recruits to the force.
Statement from the PCC: "I am grateful to the Express and Star for today drawing my attention to a newspaper article dated 15 February 2023. I am deeply concerned about this matter and am treating it with the utmost seriousness. 1/2 https://t.co/aPj1rVTkke
— WestMidsPCC (@WestMidsPCC) February 17, 2023
The material shared by Mr Mustafa included a video that contained a “call” that asked: “Where is the Caliph of the Muslims? Don’t you care that the Jews are defiling the place of the prophet’s nocturnal journey with their filth? The Jews are the most hostile people towards the believers.”
Discussing Mr Mustafa, Mr Shawcross wrote: “I was disturbed to learn that this individual has worked with Government departments on counter terrorism and security policy.
“In 2020, he authored a paper for NAMP advising Counter Terrorism Policing drop the terms ‘Islamism’ and ‘jihadism’, which was later discussed at a meeting attended by senior policing figures.”
Dr Mustafa has been contacted for comment.