Muslim classroom assistant sacked for insisting on wearing a veil appeals against dismissal

A Muslim classroom assistant sacked for refusing to take off her veil during lessons is appealing against her dismissal.

Aishah Azmi, 24, was asked to remove the veil after pupils at Headfield Church of England school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire found it hard to understand her.

She refused and was suspended from her job as ethnic minority achievement curriculum support assistant. She then brought a claim of unfair dismissal on grounds of religious discrimination and harassment on religious grounds.

Azmi lost her case but was awarded £1,100 for injury to feelings after the tribunal found Kirklees Council guilty of creating an environment that had led to her being victimised.

She has now lodged papers with the Employment Appeals Tribunal in London.