PAKISTAN: A Christian teacher faces systematic discrimination at work and is dismissed without valid ground or lawful compensation

Dear friends,

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information regarding the systematic discrimination faced by a Christian teacher in Lahore. After being repeatedly abused allegedly by her principal, she was dismissed without valid ground or lawful compensation. Her case is another example of the discriminatory treatment that members of religious minorities – and Christians in particular – receive in Pakistan.

CASE NARRATIVE:

Ms. Julia Austin, 32, comes from an educated Christian family of Lahore and studied Applied Mathematics and Computer Science. She has been teaching mathematics for 11 years and has been employed at Bahria Town School, a private educational institute in Lahore since February 1, 2007. On June 22, 2010, she was dismissed by her principal, Ms. Naghmana Ambreen.

Ms. Ambreen, a Muslim woman allegedly known for her hatred for Christians, repeatedly abused Ms. Austin since 2007. In addition to a humiliating treatment, notably in front of her students, Ms. Austin suffered an unjustified downgrading. During a change in the administration of the school that lasted 5 months and made Mr Javed Nisar principal, Ms. Austin obtained a senior grade and was made head of the mathematics department, in reward to her valuable work. As soon as Ms. Ambreen managed to come back at the head of the school, she downgraded Ms. Austin and continued her abuses. Other members of the staff who supported Ms. Austin were also discriminated against or dismissed by her principal Ms. Ambreen.

On several occasions, Ms. Ambreen showed violent and heinous behaviour. In mid-2009, after a disagreement with Ms. Nasreen, a janitor of the school, she allegedly allowed some men to abuse her and beat her up in front of the school premises.

She also showed religious intolerance. During the change in administration, the new principal invited a pastor to come and speak about Christianity and integration of minority religions in Pakistani society. She advocated against such “un-Islamic” behaviour and had the principal dismissed. She moreover hired a man, whose qualification as a teacher is highly questionable. Instead of teaching mathematics, the man allegedly spreads sectarian teachings and calls the young students for jihad.

On June 22, 2010, Ms. Austin was called in the principal’s office and was dismissed without warning. Ms. Ambreen pretended that Ms. Austin’s results at the annual examination were not sufficient and that she did not properly prepare her classes. However, the results published by Agha Khan Examination Board show that Ms. Austin’s students obtained the highest scores of the school.

In addition to this lack of valid grounds for her dismissal, the normal procedure was not respected. Indeed, according to the teachers’ contract, one can be dismissed only after three warning letters have been issued. Ms. Austin did not receive any and there would be no reason for her to receive one. Moreover, if a contract is terminated, the employee must receive the equivalent of a two-month salary. Ms. Austin did not receive any compensation and was further denied her full salary, to which the principal deducted more than Rs. 7,000 for days that Ms. Austin supposedly took off. This is completely illegal, notably as Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays recognised by the government.

In view of this injustice, Ms. Austin tried to complain to the school authorities and to ask for a proper inquiry to be conducted into her dismissal. However, no one among the school direction would listen to her or accept her complaint. The AHRC contacted a colleague of Ms. Austin, who asked for her identity not to be disclosed and who confirmed that Ms. Austin was very badly treated by her principal and the school authorities and that she was systematically discriminated against because she is Christian.

Ms. Austin is now having a hard time finding another teaching job, as Christians suffer from religion-based discrimination. She is asking for justice and reparation. She is moreover concerned for her students, who are left with incompetent teachers, preaching religious hatred and intolerance.

In addition, she does not dare filing an official complaint for fear of the severe repercussion it might trigger from the Muslim majority not only against her, but also against the entire Christian community.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Members of religious minorities are regularly assaulted, tortured or murdered and their property and place of worship are ransacked and desecrated. The blasphemy laws understand blasphemy only as an offence against Islam and are used by a criminal nexus between the police, the administration and religious fundamentalists to intimidate Christians, Ahmadis and all religious minorities in Pakistan.

The month of July is marked by the killings of two Christian brothers in July and the anniversary of the Gojra incident during which a Muslim mob attacked the Christian community after two men were accused of blasphemy against Islam. Seventy houses were set on fire and seven Christians, including four women and two children were torched alive. In this context, no room can be left for religious intolerance.

The Pakistan Constitution states that all citizens are equal before the law. The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights further guarantees equality and freedom of religion and expression. As a signatory of this convention, Pakistan must take strong measures to put an end to the systematic discrimination faced by religious minorities. Everyone must remember Jinnah’s speech to the first Constituent Assembly of Pakistan on August 11, 1947: 
“You may belong to any religion or caste or creed – that has nothing to do with the business of the State … We are starting with this fundamental principle: that we are all citizens and equal citizens of one State”.

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities to urge them to restore justice for Ms. Austin. She must be reintegrated in the school she was illegally dismissed from and must receive compensation for the difficulties she suffered. An investigation must be launched against Ms. Naghmana Ambreen, principal of Bahria Town School, Lahore regarding her discriminating and violent behaviour.

The AHRC writes a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief.

To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER