Muslim Teacher’s Dismissal Overturned by Dijon Court in Religious Discrimination Case

At the origin of the decision to dismiss the physics-chemistry teacher by the Dijon rectorate on October 31, a "feeling of unease" denounced by the principal of the college, reports AFP. According to the latter, this feeling arose from this faculty member’s refusal to shake hands with women. Similarly, the request for a key to arrive early at the college or information on the alarm system worried his hierarchical superior.

Last Tuesday, the Administrative Court of Dijon canceled this sanction, according to Me Sana Ben Hadj, the lawyer of this 26-year-old teacher. She believes that her client had been targeted because of "his name and his appearance".

While he was doing a replacement in an establishment in November 2018, this contractual physics-chemistry teacher had received a letter from the rectorate notifying him of the non-renewal of his contract and the impossibility of being hired within the academy.

But fortunately, justice has ruled in favor of this French citizen of Maghrebi origin: "the elements reported by the principal of the college appear insufficient, in the particular circumstances in this case and in the absence of any other clue". For its part, the Dijon rectorate refused to comment on this case.