Muslim 'fired over beard'

A Muslim employed by Virgin Trains told today how he was sacked from his job at Euston station after refusing to trim his beard or work in the first class lounge where alcohol was served.

In the first case of its kind to go before an employment tribunal, Mohsin Mohmed, 22, is seeking £20,000 from the company for religious discrimination.

He alleges he was harassed by managers about his beard as soon as he started his job as a customer services assistant last year, despite explaining that he needed to keep it at a certain length for religious reasons.

Eventually he was dismissed at the end of his probationary period for a "lack of enthusiasm" and escorted from the premises.

He said today he did not believe that was the real reason for his sacking. He told the tribunal: "I made it clear to them that my religious beliefs made me keep my beard at one fist length, or four inches." He also explained that he had to wear a hat for religious reasons.

Mr Mohmed said his manager, David Adams, repeatedly told him to trim his beard. He did so but it was still not enough and he was asked: "If you had to choose between your job and your beard, what would you do?"

He demonstrated to Mr Adams with his hand how he had to keep his beard at a certain length but a few weeks later when the two men passed on the station concourse, Mr Adams asked him in front of a colleague: "Do your trick, show how you check your beard."

"I felt so humiliated," said Mr Mohmed. "I thought I was being singled out because of my religious beliefs and asked to do this 'trick'." He told the central London tribunal that as a strict Muslim, if he didn't observe his religious beliefs he would be punished in the next life.

"I felt my religious beliefs were not being considered," he said.

Two months into his job he was rostered to work in the first class lounge where drinks were served.

"I explained I couldn't work there because alcohol was served there and it was against my religious beliefs," he said. His manager suggested that he wear gloves so his skin didn't touch the glasses. "This demonstrated his lack of understanding. It was an offence against Allah," said Mr Mohmed.

Mr Mohmed, from Ilford, said he came from a devout Muslim family. He said the Prophet instructed that devout Muslims should only trim their beards beyond what could be held in their hand. He told managersat Euston he felt compelled to follow his religious beliefs but claims that on at least six occasions he was instructed to trim his beard.

Mr Mohmed told the tribunal: "I believe that Muslims who shave or trim their beards more than a fist length are in reality sinning. According to my religious belief, what the Prophet commands is compulsory."

Mr Adams told him that he did not seem enthusiastic at work and had been seen sitting with his hands in his pockets, the tribunal heard.

Mr Mohmed said that by the time he was sacked in February his beard was half its original length. He said he had been unable to find a new job, was now depressed and found it difficult to motivate himself. "I was treated unfairly, not because of my work performance, but because of my religious beliefs," he said. "What happened to me is wrong and should not ever happen to any person of any race."

The hearing continues.