Always fine whines

A muslim who claims he did not know Tesco sold alcohol is suing the store for religious discrimination after having to carry crates of drink as part of his job as a forklift truck driver.

Mohammed Ahmed worked in a distribution depot for eight months before quitting 'in protest', an employment tribunal heard.

He claims he was forced to leave because handling beer, spirits and wine is against his strict Islamic beliefs and that he was victimised when he asked the company to give him another role.

Ahmed, who was raised in Saudi Arabia, told the tribunal he had no idea his job entailed handling alcohol when he started work last September at the depot in Lichfield, Staffordshire. When he realised it did, he asked to be found different work but alleges that one of his supervisors told him: You do the job or go home.

The tribunal heard that Tesco has now ensured its induction process makes clear that handling alcohol is part of the job. But Laura Canham, the company's solicitor, said it was still unrealistic for Ahmed to say he had no idea what his duties would be.

Ahmed claimed he had never visited a Tesco store and was not aware the company sold alcohol. He admitted, however, having shopped in Sainsbury's, Lidl and Asda, and noticing alcohol was on sale there.

Always fine whines

A Muslim warehouse employee at Tesco has lost his claim for religious discrimination after he had objected to handling alcohol. Mohammed Ahmed said the job was against his Islamic beliefs. He accused Tesco of victimisation and harassment during a three-day employment tribunal in Birmingham.

His job at the supermarket's Lichfield depot involved the transportation of various goods, including alcoholic drinks, on fork-lift trucks. The Saudi Arabian national told the tribunal he was not informed that he would be handling alcohol when he started the job last year. Tesco denied this.

Ahmed said: It's not fair but what can I do? They [Tesco] were not taking into account my religious beliefs. I will consult with solicitors. He refused to touch alcohol because it was against his religious principles as a Muslim, he said, and asked to be found other work. He told the tribunal that Tesco failed to co-operate and alleged he was told by a supervisor, You do the job or go home, a claim also denied by the store. After eight months working for the company, he left in protest.