johnny g Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Devout Muslim sues Tesco for making him carry alcohol A Muslim who claims he did not know Tesco sold alcohol is suing the store for religious discrimination after having to carry crates of drink as part of his job. Forklift truck driver Mohammed Ahmed, 32, worked in a distribution depot for eight months before quitting 'in protest', an employment tribunal heard. He claims he was forced to leave because handling beer, spirits and wine is against his strict Islamic beliefs and that he was victimised when he asked the company to give him another role. Mr Ahmed, who was raised in Saudi Arabia, told the tribunal he had no idea his job entailed handling alcohol when he started work last September at the depot in Lichfield, Staffordshire. When he realised it did, he asked to be found different work but alleges that one of his supervisors told him: 'You do the job or go home.' Mr Ahmed also claimed his line manager was 'aggressive' towards him and another supervisor angrily told him: 'Do not take the p***.' The problem allegedly worsened in November and December when extra alcohol arrived at the warehouse in readiness for Christmas, the tribunal in Birmingham heard. Mr Ahmed claimed he eventually lodged an official grievance with the company in February and was 'victimised and harassed' as a result. Crates of beer Ahmed complained that he was made to carry crates of beer at the Tesco store. The tribunal heard that Tesco has now ensured its induction process makes clear that handling alcohol is part of the job. But Laura Canham, the company's solicitor, said it was still unrealistic for Mr Ahmed to say he had no idea what his duties would be. Mr Ahmed claimed he had never visited a Tesco store and was not aware the company sold alcohol. He admitted, however, having shopped in Sainsbury's, Lidl and Asda, and noticing alcohol was on sale there. Miss Canham said: 'He was advised at the outset what the job would entail. At no stage did he raise the fact he could not handle alcohol.' The tribunal was told Mr Ahmed also gave out 'mixed messages', at one stage suggesting he was allowed to handle Budweiser beer. Miss Canham denied the company discriminated against him and said: 'It would be reasonable to expect him to be aware of what Tesco did.' Mr Ahmed, of Derby, who is suing the firm for racial discrimination, victimisation and harassment, should learn the outcome of the case later this week. Saudi Arabia's enforcement of strict Sharia law regarding alcohol is among the harshest in the world. Sentences include several months' imprisonment for simply drinking beer, and it is not unknown for offenders to be given lashes as well. A spokesman for Tesco, whose £63million Lichfield depot has around 1,000 workers, said: ' Managers are trained to be culturally sensitive and have an open-door policy to staff for issues like this, as everyone is welcome to work at Tesco.' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 What a load of crap!!!! I don't drink, but that doesn't mean I stop going to the shops! If he was drinking on the job then maybe... sounds like a cop out to me, and he just wanted a reason to go and get a decent payout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I'm sorry but no-one 'made' him carry crates of beer. If he didn't like it he could have left and with Tesco being a supermarket I'd have thought he'd either have known that his job would entail this or should have made it clear at interview stage he couldn't do these tasks (in which case would never have been given the job). FFS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 another case of making easy money Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 It took him 8 months to realize what was in the warehouse? They should sack him for just being thick. Nothing religious about that, surely he could SEE what was in the warehouse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
juanchan Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Oh FFS. That's truly extracting the Michael. How can you not know Tesco sold alcohol?? I really hope he doesn't win that one, and that's nothing to do with his race / religion / gender / sexual orientation / age etc. It's to do with him being a numpty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustGav Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Out of interest and this is a serious question for those followers of Islam amongst us (I'm not religious so I don't know), but I understand that consumption of alcohol is forbidden but what does Qur'an say regarding handling of it? Would the same not be relevant for a person of Jewish faith say packing the Bacon shelf or fact any meat that isn't Kosher? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Oh FFS. That's truly extracting the Michael. How can you not know Tesco sold alcohol?? I really hope he doesn't win that one, and that's nothing to do with his race / religion / gender / sexual orientation / age etc. It's to do with him being a numpty. Hmmmmm. So to extract Michael all we need is a devout muslim? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbloodyturbo Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 complete to55er, if he's that worried about carrying alcohol why doesn't he publicly flog himself as a punishment, keeping with the whole sharia thing..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 If the Tesco warehouse were in Saudi I would understand his surprise, however it is in England, where it is legal to buy and consume alcohol, where town councils issue licenses to public houses and restaurants, where IIRC, apart from certain areas it is still legal to drink on the street. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Out of interest and this is a serious question for those followers of Islam amongst us (I'm not religious so I don't know), but I understand that consumption of alcohol is forbidden but what does Qur'an say regarding handling of it? Would the same not be relevant for a person of Jewish faith say packing the Bacon shelf or fact any meat that isn't Kosher? I just asked a muslim colleague about that - basically they're not supposed to be involved in any way with intoxicating substances - alcohol, cigarettes, or harder substances of course. That's both drinking, supplying, distributing or handling. Of course, each person takes that only as far as they see fit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 .....should have made it clear at interview stage he couldn't do these tasks (in which case would never have been given the job). Then he'd be suing for discrimination again, either way he's onto a winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garetheves Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 this type of thing makes my blood boil!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benyon Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I got taught at school when going for a job interview research the company first. He should not win this, Infact i know muslims that drink beer and snort coke. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 claims he did not know Tesco sold alcohol Yeah sure, did he also not know that they sold pork products? As being a devout Muslim he also wouldn't eat that. He'll probably get a big payout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoff Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I agree with him:d Seriously though what a piss take. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Why are courts so scared of being fair? Positive discrimination is just as bad as racism and its getting beyond a joke. Devout muslim? devout bloody chancer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Then he'd be suing for discrimination again, either way he's onto a winner. Hardly. I mean, how can he argue that he can do the job better than others? If he could still do the job and didn't get it because he was a muslim then fair enough, but he can't fulfil the basic criteria of the job so it's not discrimination imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 He didn't know Tesco sold alcohol? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havard Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 He didn't know Tesco sold alcohol? Do Tesco sell alcohol then?? I never seem to get past the womens underwear section personally!! H. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbourner Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Hardly. I mean, how can he argue that he can do the job better than others? If he could still do the job and didn't get it because he was a muslim then fair enough, but he can't fulfil the basic criteria of the job so it's not discrimination imo. Can't fulfil basic criteria required of the job?: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1027300/How-I-nearly-lost-business-refusing-hire-Muslim-hair-stylist-wouldnt-hair.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 another case of making easy money Pun intended? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian W Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 Can't fulfil basic criteria required of the job?: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1027300/How-I-nearly-lost-business-refusing-hire-Muslim-hair-stylist-wouldnt-hair.html See, to me that's different as that's just refusing to show her hair. That didn't impinge on her job as a hair stylist. The guy who wouldn't carry beer is more like this woman saying she wanted a job as a hair stylist but is against her religion to hold a pair of scissors Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbleapple Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I hate people like him.... who take the piss with regard to this country. I'm sorry but no-one 'made' him carry crates of beer. As a warehouse driver I should think he was… I think that’s the whole point of article. another case of making easy money It’s a tribunal… the money is limited I just asked a muslim colleague about that - basically they're not supposed to be involved in any way with intoxicating substances - alcohol, cigarettes, or harder substances of course. That's both drinking, supplying, distributing or handling. Of course, each person takes that only as far as they see fit. According to the article he told them that he could move Budweiser… *smells something unpleasent* Why are courts so scared of being fair? Positive discrimination is just as bad as racism and its getting beyond a joke. Devout muslim? devout bloody chancer! It’s a tribunal not a court. 2nd who said he had won? I’m guessing he is about to get his arse handed to him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lbm Posted September 29, 2008 Share Posted September 29, 2008 I think the man's got a point. I mean naughty Tesco- what were they thinking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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