Muslim Tesco truck driver loses religious discrimination case

A Muslim fork-lift truck driver who sued Tesco for religious discrimination because he was asked to handle alcoholic drinks as part of his job at the company’s Lichfield goods depot has lost his case, it has emerged.

Mohammed Ahmed, who was raised in Saudi Arabia, told a Birmingham employment tribunal that he did not know his job entailed handling alcohol when he started work at the depot in September 2007. He added that the job was against his religious beliefs.

The 32-year-old of Normanton, Derby, also accused Tesco of victimisation and harassment during the three-day tribunal in October.

Ahmed said he asked to be moved to other work but alleged that a supervisor told him: “You do the job or you go home.”

He also claimed that his line manager was “aggressive” towards him, and that another told him: “Do not take the p***.”

But the supermarket giant said they advised him from the outset what the job would entail, and at no stage did he raise the fact he could not handle alcohol.

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A Tesco spokesman said: “Our managers are trained to be culturally sensitive and have an ‘open-door policy’ to all staff for any issues as everyone is welcome to work at Tesco. We are pleased with the outcome.”

Ahmed said: “It’s in our religion that we are not allowed to handle alcohol. In the UK there’s equal opportunities that should protect me and my beliefs.”