from "Foreign Office diplomat found guilty of racial harassment," The Guardian
A British senior Foreign Office civil servant was convicted of racially aggravated harassment today and is now in danger of losing his job.
Rowan Laxton, who heads the South Asia desk, had been at a London gym watching a news update about the Gaza conflict when he yelled "f*cking Israelis, f*cking Jews". The report had mentioned the death of a Palestinian farmer, killed by Israeli bombs...
Two gym members overheard Laxton and complained to the gym staff. According to one of the complainants, Laxton also said: "If I had my way, the bloody international community should be sent in and if the Israelis got in the way, they'd be blown off the f*cking earth." Laxton denied saying the statement, but said he was sorry if his words had offended anyone.
"We are all human. I erred. I don't normally swear," Laxton said. In a written judgment, District Judge Riddle said Laxton had been under stress on the day, and may have been oblivious to others around him. Laxton had completed divorce proceedings that morning.
"I am embarrassed, to be honest with you," he said. Laxton added that his comments suggested everybody in Israel was "somehow responsible" for the farmer's death.
And yet, the Germans are somehow "responsible" for the actions of their government and military, which is why German tax money still goes to Israel to honor victims of the Holocaust)
District judge Howard Riddle, announcing his verdict, said that while Laxton's behaviour was "undoubtedly out of character", there was "no doubt" the words were "threatening, abusive or insulting".
Laxton was fined £350 and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
Laxton was suspended from his job earlier this year, and a misconduct hearing is likely to start this week. (more)
Funny how German children who are not yet born will have to pay atonement and memorialize something they did not do (let alone live through) when, on the other hand, it is a "hate crime" to lob mass accusations at the Jews/Israelis for the supposed crimes of their government and military forces, even if those supposed crimes took place long ago, before many of us were even alive...
