Muslim Engineer Sues French Firm for Forcing Him to Use ’French’ Name for 20 Years

Between 1997 and 2017, the engineer found himself in an embarrassing situation. No one knew what name to call him. Mohamed or Antoine? Now 63 years old, this Franco-Algerian accuses the management of Intergraph France, a software company based in Rungis (Val-de-Marne), of having imposed this borrowed first name, with a more hexagonal sound, reports Le Parisien.

"Above me, there were not very smart people, who could not conceive that an Arab could work in high technology and deal with companies like EDF or Areva. These people despised me," he laments in the columns of the newspaper. He has received the support of the International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA).

But what does the company say about Mohamed Amghar’s complaint? Today Hexagon PPM, the managers believe they have not "influenced" anyone and consider these "unjustified accusations". On his business cards, on his internal awards, in emails he exchanges with management, the first name "Antoine" is indeed found. Whereas for official procedures, such as requests for access to secure sites, it is his civil status first name, Mohamed, that is indicated. Even his pay slips are made out in the name of "Mohamed-Antoine".

His lawyer, Ms. Galina Elbaz, considers this case "emblematic" of racial discrimination at work. She is pleased with the many existing proofs that give solidity to the case. But the game is far from won. As early as 2018, the lawyer, delegate for the fight against discrimination at LICRA, had put the Intergraph company on notice for an amicable settlement. "We cannot rule out that Mr. Amghar may have been the source of this first name," the management had retorted, claiming to ignore the reasons for this name change, and referring to the deceased CEO of the company.

Mohamed Amghar reassures that he is not doing all this for money. "It’s a fight for dignity. From the first day, I knew I would ask for compensation," he said.