DAR AL HARB - U.K.: ACCUSATIONS OF RACISM

Yard rocked by race row as Senior Muslim officer fails to win promotion

Scotland Yard was plunged into a race row last night after one of the country's most senior Muslim officers failed in his bid for promotion.

Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, an outspoken critic of racism in the Met, was one of ten officers hoping to be selected for the rank of Commander.

But yesterday he was turned down for the £95,000-a-year post prompting a furious backlash from his supporters in the powerful National Black Police Association, to which he is legal adviser.

A senior official in the NBPA alleged Iranian-born Mr Dizaei, 44, may have been the victim of a 'personal vendetta' and demanded urgent talks with Met chief Sir Ian Blair to discuss the promotion snub. He also indicated the case could end up at an employment tribunal.

In a separate statement, the Metropolitan Black Police Association said it was "extremely disappointed" that Mr Dizaei had not been selected by a four-strong police authority promotion board, which was advised by Sir Ian.

"We suspect the decision of the Metropolitan Police Authority was not free from bias and could not have been reached on the basis of objective and fair criteria," it said.

Three white officers were selected for the rank of commander, equivalent to the rank of assistant chief constable, instead of Mr Dizaei.

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