by Timothy Whiteman, Wilmington Political Buzz Examiner | Examiner.com | November 27, 2011
Muslim protesters in London. Photo: Getty
Nohad Halawi, a Lebanese Christian who emigrated to Great Britain in 1977, is accusing her Muslim former fellow employees of unfairly conspiring to have her fired on account of her Christianity.
The former saleswoman worked at London's Heathrow Airport duty-free shop for 13 years before getting the sack last July.
The Telegraph of London is reporting that Mrs. Halawi, 47, said: "I have been sacked on the basis of unsubstantiated complaints so there is now great fear amongst my former colleagues that the same could happen to them if one of the Muslims turns on them.
"This is supposed to be a Christian country, but the law seems to be on the side of the Muslims."
Among Mrs. Halawi's allegations;
- One man brought in the Koran to work and insisted I read it and another brought in Islamic leaflets and handed them out to other employees.
- "She would go to Hell due to her adherence to Christianity.
- Jews were responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
- The September 11th attacks served the Americans right and that they hated the West, but that they had come here because they want to convert people to Islam.
- They stated that Jesus is sh**ty.
- Bullied a Christian friend to tears for wearing crosses.
Last May, five of Mrs. Halawi's Muslim co-workers complained to shop manager David Tunnicliffe, accusing her of being anti-Islamic following a heated conversation in the store.
The Telegraph is reporting that "However, the only comments she made which Mr Tunnicliffe claimed were offensive relate to her accusing a Muslim colleague of having 'extremist leaflets' and asking another Muslim why Jesus was being described as 'sh**ty'."
A petition signed by 28 of Halawi's former colleagues, some of them Muslims, argued that she has been fired on the basis of "malicious lies", and are asking she be re-hired.
Mrs. Halawi is being represented by the Christian Legal Centre. whose founder and director, Andrea Minichiello Williams, stated "that this case is one of the most serious they have handled."
"It raises huge issues," she said. "First, there is the level of Islamic fundamentalism prevalent at our main point of entry to the UK.
"Then there are very real issues of religious discrimination, which it would appear those in authority are turning a blind eye to, using the current loop-holes in employment law as an excuse."
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