Discrimination claim a 'win for Asian women'

A WOMAN says her successful discrimination claim against Nottinghamshire Black Partnership (NBP) is not just a victory for her but "a win for many Asian women."

Aneela Asim, former chief executive of NBP, brought claims of sexual and racial discrimination and harassment against the organisation.

The tribunal ruled she was successful in all three claims, and that the reason for her treatment was a mixture of her taking sides in a board dispute and her sex and race.

"I'm over the moon," Mrs Asim told the Post. "But at the same time I think it's not just a win for me, it's a win for many Asian women out there."

The claims were brought against Najeeb Nazir and Mohammad Aslam as representative members of the board, not in a personal capacity.

Mrs Asim told the employment tribunal at Byron House, in Maid Marian Way, she felt she was continually undermined by members of the board after she took up the position of chief executive officer in 2006.

She claimed Mr Nazir, who was a volunteer at NBP, was threatening in a conversation with her after she wrote a letter to members of the board outlining her disappointment after her first board meeting in 2006 fell into disarray. He claimed she had taken sides at the meeting.

The tribunal ruled: "We find that he did tell Mrs Asim that she had no right to write the letter to the board, had not been employed to give instructions to the board, and that she should be careful in the position she was in.

"We find that "be careful" has a threatening element to it and that Mrs Asim did reasonably perceive these conversations to amount to harassment of her."

The tribunal also found that Mrs Asim was harassed because of her sex when former treasurer and Nottingham city councillor Mohammad Aslam referred to her as 'she' and 'her' at board meetings, treating her sometimes as if she wasn't there.

Mr Nazir and Mr Aslam said they will be taking legal advice to appeal against the decision. Mr Nazir vehemently denies the claims and said: "I don't feel I have got justice and I will resort to the appeal process.

"As someone who has dedicated a lot of my life to fighting inequality I find this alarming and shocking.

"The whole business of us making a complaint in the first place was being excluded from the recruitment process at NBP. In fighting for equality I have been accused of discrimination."

NBP was set up in 2001 to serve the black ethnic minority communities in the county. Mrs Asim joined as a Pakistani support officer in 2003.

A further hearing will now be held to assess any compensation to Mrs Asim.

claire.carter@nottinghameveningpost.co.uk