UK Muslim Police Group Under Fire for Calling Zionism Anti-Muslim Hatred

A police-linked Muslim officers’ organization in the United Kingdom is facing backlash after a now-deleted policy paper described Zionism as a form of anti-Muslim hatred, called the IDF a “Zionist terrorist group,” and questioned reports about Hamas’s October 7 massacre.

The document, published by the National Association of Muslim Police, has renewed concern among Jewish organizations over whether anti-Israel ideology is influencing parts of British policing. The controversy comes as Jewish groups in the U.K. continue to warn of declining trust in police handling of antisemitism and anti-Israel demonstrations.

The paper was authored by Khaldoun Kabbani, a former vice president of NAMP, and focused on what it described as “confronting anti-Muslim hatred.” It reportedly stated that “Zionism represents one of the manifestations of anti-Muslim hatred” and accused the Israel Defense Forces of being among “Zionist terrorist groups.”

The document also questioned the record of Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. According to the Daily Mail, it claimed Israel had circulated “alarming and unverified stories” about atrocities committed by Hamas, including reports of beheadings and assaults. It also accused Zionists of “misusing the Holocaust.”

The paper was first identified last year by The Spectator and has since been removed from NAMP’s website.

Campaign Against Antisemitism called for an investigation into those responsible for publishing the document. Stephen Silverman, the group’s director of investigations and enforcement, told the Daily Mail that the authors and publishers should face professional misconduct inquiries and dismissal from police service.

“The people responsible for publishing this extremist screed on the officialpolice.uk web domain are unfit to be police officers,” Silverman said.

Campaign Against Antisemitism said it plans to raise the matter with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. The group said British Jews have experienced unequal treatment in policing and warned that confidence in law enforcement has declined.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews also condemned the paper. A spokesman said it contained “falsehoods” about Jewish identity, Jewish history and antisemitism, and warned that any circulation of such material among serving officers would raise serious questions about the integrity and impartiality of policing.

The Jewish Leadership Council also criticized the document, saying it falsely linked Zionism, a belief held by many Jews, with hostility toward Muslims. 

Israel’s embassy in London issued a statement on Sunday expressing concern over the document, particularly amid rising antisemitism across the United Kingdom.

“Malicious language of this kind risks further fueling hatred and intimidation against Jewish communities,” the embassy said. “We would expect the police, and any organization operating within or alongside policing structures, to uphold the highest standards of impartiality, professionalism and protection for all communities.”

NAMP is affiliated with more than a dozen police forces across the United Kingdom, including forces in Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Scotland, according to the Daily Mail. The College of Policing has previously described the group as an important organization supporting the police workforce.

As of the latest reporting, NAMP, Kabbani, the Home Office and the College of Policing had not issued clear public responses to the backlash. Jewish groups are now pressing for authorities to examine how the paper was published and whether any serving officers were involved.