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September 7, 2006

UK: Sexual Harassment Claims At Muslim School

The Iqra school is situated in Lawn Upton House, David Nicholls Close in Littlemore, Oxford. It is an independent Muslim "faith school" for about 75 girls, aged 10 to 12, and is run by an Iranian, Hojjat Ramzy. The school's Islamic Adviser is Imam Ataullah Khan. The school has made efforts to ingratiate itself with the community at large. On the anniversary of the 7/7 bombings, it held a memorial service for the victims.

When HM Queen Elizabeth II visited Oxford on 5 May this year, and was touring the renovated castle and prison, Hojjat Ramzy and some of his mini-Muslimahs pushed forward to be seen greeting her. The school employs the local Anglican priest, Bernhard Sch ünemann, to teach Christianity to the pupils.

A rather bizarre employment tribunal case is currently being heard, concerning the woman featured left, a 33-year old South African convert to Islam named Monique Buckner (pictured top left). The news is carried in the Telegraph, the Times and the Daily Mail.

Ms Buckner claims that 52-year old Hojjat Ramzy interrogated her on whether she was a virgin when she joined the school. She told the tribunal that she had been "disgusted" by Ramzy's comments. She claimed: "In the office one day after school, Mr Ramzy told me that if he were younger, he would marry me. This disgusted me as I considered Mr Ramzy to be a pious Muslim whom I trusted and respected."

Ms Buckner had converted to Islam after meeting Mr Ramzy on numerous occasions in Oxford city last year, when he ran a religious stall in Cornmarket Street. She had taken his advice and when she became a convert, she began to call herself "Hakima", which means "wisdom". She also started to dress like a tent.

She said that at the time she met Ramzy at his Islamic information stall, she was teaching English at Bicester Community College. She told him that her work permit was due to expire at the end of summer, 2005.

Mr Ramzy and his wife Maryam (who was head of administration) offered a job to Buckner, teaching English at Iqra School.

However, after teaching for a while, she was upset to find that her wage packet showed she was only being paid £20 per day ($37.5), whereas other staff at the school were being paid £10 per hour ($18.7).

Arthur James, representing the school, said that Buckner was only employed as a volunteer. Buckner claimed at the tribunal: "Iqra's school work permit application to the Home Office, which was completed by the headteacher and Mrs Ramzy and signed by Mr Ramzy, clearly states my full-time status."

When she went to Ramzy and complained, she was given a wages rise of £60 per day ($112). However, only a week after he increased her rate of pay, he drastically reduced her hours. Buckner was reduced to being employed for only five hours a week.

It is alleged that there had been complaints from pupils before her hours were cut, though no evidence of this was presented before the tribunal. Buckner said yesterday: "In this way, he forced me out of my job, as I could not survive on five hours' worth of work per week."

The claims about sexual aspects of conversation are interesting, as she also alleged that Ramzy had tried to fix an arranged marriage for her with a younger man. In this context, the story Buckner presents about intrusive questions into her sex life seems more reasonable.

Ramzy already knew that she wanted to stay in Britain, and if he was trying to arrange a marriage for her (which would have given her rights to stay in Britain) then to ask if she was a virgin or not would obviously be something that a potential suitor would want to know. He also, she claims, said that if he was younger, he would have liked to marry her himself. Is that abuse, or mere flattery, or confidence-building?

Maryam Ramzy told the tribunal that she and her husband had tried to help Buckner to stay in Britain "as a favour". She said: "We felt duty-bound to help a fellow Muslim. This is our job."

The virginity question and the marriage comment had obviously affected Buckner's attitudes. She said that after this conversation: "We were not talking because of the incident in the office. We did not see eye-to-eye on personal issues. He was interfering in my personal life."

There are conflicting accounts in this case and the chairman of the tribunal, Robin Lewis, said the tribunal panel would have to decide if Miss Buckner had the status of an employee.

Buckner is suing under three breaches of the Employment Act - unpaid wages, unpaid holiday pay and unpaid notice pay. She is also claiming that she was being discriminated against under the Race Relations Act because of her nationality.

The tribunal has been adjourned until November, when Ramzy will submit his evidence to the panel.

What is apparent is that hearing is reflecting badly both upon Ramzy and the school, and also upon Miss Buckner.

Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at September 7, 2006 8:15 AM

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