[roberto]

Journalist sues Al-Jazeera for £1m claiming she was sacked for being a 'white, Christian, British female'
Last updated at 00:37am on 02.05.08
A journalist is suing Al-Jazeera for more than £1million after claiming she was sacked for being a 'white, Christian, British female'.

Jo Burgin, 49, was a senior journalist at ITN and Sky before she moved to the Gulf to work for the Arabic TV station.

But an employment tribunal heard yesterday that the 'excellent manager' lost her job while her husband Steve Clark was kept on at the news channel.

A 'family policy' that did not allow couples to work together led to her sacking - but a blind eye was turned to Muslim couples who worked there, she claims.

Jonathan Cohen, for Miss Burgin, told the preliminary hearing in central London: "The dismissal is alleged to have been discriminatory in relation to race, sex and religion.

"We say that what Al-Jazeera called a 'family policy' is a pretext for the dismissal.

"Even if Al-Jazeera does have some form of policy that prevents couples from working together, there was a decision to dismiss Mr Clark or the claimant.

"They chose to dismiss the claimant - we say that is because she was a woman."

He added: "The claimant has described herself as a white, Christian, British female.

"A Muslim or an employee from a predominantly Muslim country would not have been dismissed.

A source described the working environment at Al-Jazeera English as 'hateful'

"We say that Muslim couples in relationships are allowed in Al-Jazeera to work together.

"The claimant asserts that she was told at the time of her dismissal that there were couples of a different race who were allowed to work together."

The tribunal heard that while Miss Burgin's six-month contract was not renewed, those of four male employees at the same level of seniority in the same department, including the channel's head of sport and managing editor, were.

Earlier this year, the troubled English news channel was said to be facing a 'serious staffing crisis' after scores of journalists either left or did not have their contracts renewed amid claims of a revolt over working conditions.

One source claimed an email had been sent to staff banning the running of the story on British teacher Gillian Gibbons, who was arrested in Sudan for allowing her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed, because it would upset Muslims.

Another source described the working environment at Al-Jazeera English as 'hateful'.

Miss Burgin, who lives in Derbyshire, moved to Doha, Qatar, to work for the news channel as English head of planning in April 2005. She was dismissed in April last year.

Her husband, who was director of news and programmes, did have his contract renewed but left the channel of his own accord several weeks ago.

Sam Neaman, for Al-Jazeera, suggested Miss Burgin's claim for sex, race and religious discrimination was for 'north of £1million'.

Mr Cohen said no figure had been decided upon, but it was a 'high value' case because Miss Burgin had not yet secured a new job.

The full hearing will begin on September 9.

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23481652-details/Journalist+sues+Al-Jazeera+for+%C2%A31m+claiming+she+was+sacked+for+b eing+a+'white,+Christian,+British+female'/article.do

[Salika]

"The claimant asserts that she was told at the time of her dismissal that there were couples of a different race who were allowed to work together."

That's her evidence... we call that hearsay.

[Hanbali]

Originally Posted by Salika

That's her evidence... we call that hearsay.

But it's a white Christian person who said it! That's all the proof Roberto needs.

[Variable]

If there are other married couples who are working there who aren't getting fired, and she was - then it raises a valid question: why her?

[Hanbali]

Originally Posted by Variable

If there are other married couples who are working there who aren't getting fired, and she was - then it raises a valid question: why her?

"but a blind eye was turned to Muslim couples who worked there, she claims."

[Variable]

Originally Posted by Hanbali

"but a blind eye was turned to Muslim couples who worked there, she claims."

So it's likely that's a load of bullocks? It may very well be, but that's a pretty hefty claim to make if there was no validity to it. All they'd have to do is go to Al Jazeera and say "are there any other couples working here?" and Al Jazeera could say "no"

[Jamroll]

There was probably another reason she had to go, and maybe so as not to ruin her rep, they brought in this technicality.

[roberto]

[quote=roberto;135266]

Journalist sues Al-Jazeera for £1m claiming she was sacked for being a 'white, Christian, British female'

Jo Burgin's al-Jazeera employment tribunal adjourned until September | Media | guardian.co.uk


A potential £1m discrimination case brought by a former al-Jazeera English executive has been adjourned until September after a day of legal wrangling.

[Aryan_]

Maybe the family ban was waived with two or more wives.