Oxford University lecturer alleges discrimination after becoming a Christian
A lecturer is claiming that she was discriminated against and unfairly dismissed because she became a Christian. Dr Tali Argov, who was brought up in the Jewish faith, says that after becoming a Christian she was overlooked for promotion and cold-shouldered at social gatherings, until finally being made redundant from her post at the prestigious Oxford Centre for Hebrew & Jewish Studies.
Dr Argov told the employment tribunal that she initially enjoyed her new post, but problems started after her husband became a Christian in 2005, after which she claims she was “considered guilty by association”. Dr Argov followed her husband in becoming a Christian in 2008 and started attending an Anglican church.
Dr Argov told the employment tribunal that:
“It is my belief that, following firstly the conversion of my husband and then the conversion of myself, the treatment which I received as an employee of the Respondents was very different and a number of incidents occurred which led me to believe that I was being discriminated against ... it is very rare for an Israeli Jew to convert to Christianity and I was aware that not only would this be frowned upon but many Jews would believe I was a traitor who had betrayed the faith.”
Dr Argov said her conversion was “not met with much understanding” in the Jewish community, and that groups of colleagues started “looking at me strangely” and would fall silent when she approached.
Dr Argov alleges that she was the only full-time member of staff to be left out of a photo shoot in a promotional brochure. She claims that she was also told that she could no longer use her office, had her pigeonhole for letters removed and was given a lesser title on her university ID card, meaning that she lost her email account and library admittance although these were later reinstated.
Dr Argov also claims that she was told she was going to be paid on an hourly basis because of financial problems, but was later made redundant after refusing, even though extra staff were still being recruited.
The hearing continues.
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