Muslim man harassed over LinkedIn post referencing Jewish people, tribunal rules
Tribunal finds recruiter harassed after bosses demanded he delete post condemning antisemitic remarks calling for Jews to be killed
A Muslim man who was told to remove a LinkedIn post labelling a recruitment consultant’s anti-Jewish remarks “far-right” after the Southport attacks was harassed because of his faith, an employment tribunal ruled.
Iraq-born Abdalah Al-Abasi, known as Abs Valentino, a top-earning recruiter at Eden Brown Built Environment, part of nGAGE Talent, was told by bosses to remove the post or face “consequences”, the tribunal heard.
An unnamed recruitment consultant, who was not a client or direct business contact, said in a post in August 2024 that Islamic grooming gangs have “torched and raped tens of thousands of white British girls”, the tribunal was told.
The post said that radical Islamists “take to the streets calling for Jihad”, call for Jewish people to be killed and kill “thousands of people across the UK and Europe whilst shouting Allahu Akbar”.
Mr Al-Abasi urged people in a post not to work with the consultant if they feel uncomfortable with the comments, adding that it is “imperative” to highlight an individual’s ideology especially when it is “so far-right”.
Employment judge Richard Nicolle wrote in his decision that the consultant’s communications were “distorting and potentially aimed to incite antipathy towards Muslims”.
Judge Nicolle said Mr Al-Abasi “understandably took exception” to the post which came amid “the febrile atmosphere and anti-Muslim/immigrant/asylum seeker feeling within certain sections of the UK population at that time”.
The recruitment consultant complained to Mr Al-Abasi’s bosses about the claimant’s post, saying that he was “livid”, took exception to being labelled “far-right” and believed it would affect his ability to trade.
Mark Stratton, managing director at Eden Brown Built Environment, SetSquare Recruitment & Resourcing Group, was made aware of the post and was told by a colleague in HR that it should be taken down but Mr Al-Abasi said he would not do so.
The claimant told the tribunal that Mr Stratton said to him that there would be “consequences” if he did not take it down.
Mr Stratton said that while he could not recall the exact words he used, it is possible that he did say that under the social media policy a breach of its terms may result in disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, the tribunal heard.
Mr Al-Abasi later amended his reference from “so far-right” to “when it’s so wrong”.
Louise Hindley, group chief people officer, told the tribunal that the firm’s marketing department monitors online and social media communications, including automated keyword searches, saying “far-right” may constitute a potential red flag.
Judge Nicolle concluded that when “looked at in the overall context of the atmosphere which existed in Britain at that time”, asking Mr Al-Abasi to remove the post amounted to harassment under section 26 of the Equality Act 2010.
A remedy hearing, confined to injury to feelings, will be set if the parties are unable to resolve this issue.
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