No freedom given to Victoria Wasteney to talk to a Muslim colleague about her faith. Andrea Williams reports.
Victoria Wasteney, the NHS therapist who was disciplined for giving a book to a Muslim colleague, has today lost her appeal against the Employment Tribunal's ruling.
In a judgment handed down today, Judge Eady QC upheld the Tribunal's ruling, that the NHS had acted reasonably in disciplining Victoria for:
- Inviting her colleague to church-related events
- Praying with her (with consent)
- Giving her a Christian book
Today's ruling raises serious questions as to whether any Christian in a position such as Victoria's will be protected, if they manifest their faith in the workplace.
Victoria is consulting lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre as she
considers how to respond to the judgment.
Victoria, who
is Head of Forensic Occupational Therapy at a London hospital, was
suspended for nine months and then received a written warning
following allegations of 'harassment and bullying' by a Muslim
staff-member.
An internal disciplinary panel dismissed five complaints against her but upheld three saying that Victoria was wrong to have:
- Invited her colleague to various church-organised events
- Prayed with her colleague (despite having her permission to do so)
- Given her a book about a Muslim woman's encounter with Christianity
This had taken place over a period of several months in the context of what Victoria believed to be a genuine friendship.
In April last year, the Employment Tribunal ruled that her NHS employer had acted reasonably in disciplining Victoria.
Following a hearing last October, Victoria was granted permission to appeal, after Judge Eady QC said that the Employment Appeal Tribunal should consider whether the original ruling had properly applied the European Convention on Human Rights' strong protection of freedom of religion and expression.
Responding to today's decision, Victoria said:
"What the Court clearly failed to do was to say how, in today's
politically correct world, any Christian can even enter into a
conversation with a fellow employee on the subject of religion and
not, potentially, later end up in an Employment Tribunal.
"If someone sends you friendly text messages, how is one to know
that they are offended? I had no idea that I was upsetting her. For
example, I was sent the following text message by the Muslim
complainant:-
'Hope your (sic) okay Victoria, your (sic)
am (sic) amazing manager and a wonderful person, I hope you never feel
otherwise!! Anyone that can't see that is an idiot, see you tomorrow
xx'
"I believe the NHS singled me out for discipline
because Christianity is so disrespected. Previously a Christian
worship service that I set up for patients was closed down, but
accommodation for Muslims to practise their faith wholly facilitated
and encouraged ".
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre which is supporting Victoria, commented:
"Week by week Christians are marginalised, threatened, sidelined, sacked and disciplined simply for holding normal conversations about their faith which is held dear to them.
"The United Kingdom has a strong foundation rooted in Christianity
which has brought us freedom and flourishing. The NHS and our
Education System were started by Christians - motivated by their
faith. Our legal system was founded on Christian values and yet we now
see that it is one of the most liberal and anti-Christian legal
systems in the Western world.
"We need a radical review
of the balance of rights in this country which is skewed to favour
religions and ideologies other than Christianity. This is ironic given
that it is Christianity that has given our society freedom, tolerance
and hospitality".
Signs of the time? or simply innocence. The muslim woman if married could have been puting under pressure by her husband to take action against her friend (as Victoria expressed as genuine) or perhaps even being threatened by her parents or relatives as it is a common procedure amongst muslims as we've seem many times on Tv or newspapers. I myself have a lot of contact with muslims at my work place and let them know that I'm a christian but respect all kind of human beings despite their religion as I usually say: we're not born christians, muslims, hindus, budists or whatever, we're just humans passing by. It's a shame a situation like this happening in the UK where the Gospel started to be spreading across the world and that's why I came here, leaving a modest but comfortable life by the Sea to study in a Bible School in London and to have the opportunity to talk about Jesus to almost all peoples from all nations under the sun that lives in London. Being a missionary in London is like to be a missionary to the world. What a privilege to be where everything started and what sadness seeing it being destroyed mainly by those in power. One day the real judgement will happen and the Victoria will receive her rewards for not being ashamed of her faith. God bless her abundantly.