A
Muslim man is suing Virgin Trains for religious discrimination in the first
case brought since a new religious discrimination law was enacted last
December.
Mohsin
Mohmed was allegedly sacked from his £17,000-a-year job as a customer services
assistant after he refused to shave off his beard for religious reasons.
The
tribunal heard that Mohmed was regularly harassed by his manager after he
agreed to trim down his beard from eight inches to four inches, but was then told
to shave it off or lose his job.
Virgin
denies the claim, saying Mohmed was dismissed due to poor performance when his
probation period finished.
Mohmed
said: “When they said I was dismissed it was for poor performance, but I have
had good appraisals all the way through.”
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The
hearing continues.
