James Cleverly has apologised after a birth certificate mentioning Israel was defaced after being sent off to the Home Office.
The Home Secretary also announced an urgent review into the incident as he argued antisemitism is “totally unacceptable”.
In a social media post, Cleverly said: “We apologise to the family for the offence caused and I have ordered an urgent review of a birth certificate being defaced.
“While we establish the facts, our commercial partner has suspended some staff.
Home Secretary James Cleverly with an inset of the passport application
GETTY/CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM
“The matter is totally unacceptable. We will not tolerate antisemitism.”
The Home Office was alerted about the incident after the Campaign Against Antisemitism said the certificate was sent off as part of a passport application two weeks ago.
It was returned on Monday with the father’s place of birth scribbled out.
Revealing the scandal, the Campaign Against Antisemitism shared an image of the birth certificate.
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An image of the defaced passport application
CAMPAIGN AGAINST ANTISEMITISM
It added: “Two weeks ago, a member of the public sent off a passport application to the Home Office for his six-month-old baby girl.
“Today, the birth certificate was returned ripped with the word ‘Israel’ scribbled out.
“The parents are understandably very concerned about this incident.
“We are asking the Home Office to investigate how this happened.
Home Secretary James Cleverly also announced an urgent review into the incident
PA“The Home Office has responsibility for law enforcement and the security of the Jewish community.
“Confidence in the authorities is at painfully low levels and must be restored.”
The Jewish father, from North London, expressed his concern with the situation earlier this week.
He told The Daily Mail: “We felt as if we had been taken back to 1930’s Germany where the Nazis would put notes on Jewish people’s documentation.”