A man has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for a racially-aggravated assault on an Orthodox Jewish building inspector in Slough, Berkshire. Shafiq Rahman, 48, confronted Moishe Posen in the garden of a property where Mr. Posen was working on April 20. During the incident, Rahman hurled antisemitic slurs, calling Mr. Posen a “dirty motherf***** Jew” and a “dirty Jew,” while also accusing him of “killing babies in Palestine.” He also issued threats of physical violence, stating, “I’ll break his f****** jaw.” The confrontation was partially captured on video, and a passerby in a car was heard shouting encouragement to Rahman.
Details of the Assault
The court heard that Rahman cornered Mr. Posen, who is a married father of two. Mr. Posen, who was visibly identifiable as Jewish due to his religious attire, recounted feeling a deep sense of self-recrimination during the attack. He stated in a victim impact statement that he was angry not at his assailant, but at himself for being so visibly Jewish and not taking steps to mitigate the risk.
“You’re a husband and a father, knowingly putting your life in danger,” Mr. Posen reflected, expressing his internal struggle. He detailed how he returned home, put his daughters to bed, and initially withheld the details of the assault from his wife. The experience led him to consider removing his religious sidelocks (payots) and contemplating a move to Israel, despite his British heritage and his family’s history of fleeing Nazi Germany, with his maternal grandmother being a survivor of Auschwitz.
Mr. Posen, a building inspector responsible for ensuring properties are fit for rental, was inspecting a house when the incident occurred. He reported hearing the initial slur from a cyclist who rode past. When the cyclist returned, Mr. Posen began recording on his phone. He described seeing “rage in his eyes” and felt that the situation could have escalated to serious physical harm if the assailant had been armed.
The attack occurred against a backdrop of heightened tensions and a series of antisemitic incidents. Just weeks prior, four ambulances belonging to a Jewish charity were targeted by arsonists in Golders Green, North London. Days before the Slough assault, two men were also attacked in the same London suburb. Additionally, a Jewish-owned shop in Watford was targeted with arson and antisemitic graffiti the day after the attack on Mr. Posen.
Court Sentencing and Additional Offences
Shafiq Rahman pleaded guilty to racially aggravated common assault and using threatening words to provoke violence. He was also sentenced for a separate incident involving an XL Bully dog, which occurred while he was on license for another offense. This dog-related offense involved keeping a dangerous dog that was out of control, resulting in an attack on a man named Duncan Bird. The court was shown CCTV footage of Rahman carrying a muzzle at the time of the dog incident.
The XL Bully, named Sniper, bit Mr. Bird’s arm for approximately three minutes, causing an open fracture to his wrist. Mr. Bird required three operations and had four plates inserted into his wrist. Rahman also admitted to criminal damage for spitting in a police van following his arrest.
During the sentencing at Reading Crown Court, Judge Lesley Rowley addressed Rahman, noting his apparent smirking in the dock. “You seem to think something is funny. You’re not helping yourself,” the judge remarked, indicating her disapproval of his demeanor.
Rahman, residing at Lismore Park in Slough, received a total jail sentence of 16 months, encompassing all the admitted and proven offenses.
Victim’s Perspective and Broader Concerns
In his statement, Mr. Posen articulated his feelings of vulnerability and the broader implications of the attack. “I think about moving to Israel every day. But I’m British. My parents fled Nazi Germany. My maternal grandmother survived Auschwitz,” he stated, highlighting his deep connection to Britain and the painful irony of his family’s history.
He expressed a desire to feel safe walking as a “visible Jew” in Britain, a sentiment that has been shaken by the incident. Mr. Posen also touched upon a perceived societal shift, suggesting that while Britain has historically been tolerant, there is now a blurring of lines where “intolerance of extremism” is being tolerated. He believes this allows antisemitism to grow unchecked.
Community Reactions
The incident drew strong condemnation from various anti-hate organizations. Campaign Against Antisemitism described the assault as “Jewish-hatred without disguise,” emphasizing that Jews going about their daily lives are not safe from such vile attacks, deeming the situation “untenable for Jewish life in Britain.”
The Community Security Trust (CST), a charity dedicated to protecting the Jewish community, labeled the attack as “utterly abhorrent.” Alex Hearn from Labour Against Antisemitism commented on the broader context, suggesting that in the UK, “being Jewish is considered provocative,” citing instances of chants justifying violence and the subsequent real-world attacks.
Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, voiced concerns that the UK is becoming an “intolerant and dangerous place just to walk around looking Jewish.” She noted that antisemitism has become normalized to the extent that individuals feel emboldened to commit such acts, especially following a period of increased attacks on Jewish institutions.
Tan Desi, the Labour MP for Slough, condemned the incident as “heinous.” The attack on Mr. Posen occurred in the context of a series of antisemitic incidents, including the arson attacks on Jewish community ambulances in Golders Green and the targeting of a Jewish-owned shop in Watford.
Conclusion
The sentencing of Shafiq Rahman underscores the serious nature of racially-aggravated assaults and the persistent issue of antisemitism. The case highlights the profound impact such attacks have on individuals and the wider Jewish community, raising concerns about safety and tolerance within contemporary Britain.
