Fairfield School of Business Ltd

Case Summary

The claimant, a Sunni Muslim employed as a security and facilities officer, brought a claim for direct discrimination on the grounds of religion, alleging he was treated less favourably than Shia Muslim colleagues because of his faith. The tribunal found insufficient evidence that the claimant's religion played any part in the decision to dismiss him, and dismissed his complaint.

The tribunal found no evidence that the decision makers knew the claimant was a Sunni Muslim, that there was nothing on HR profiles to show this, the claimant did not raise it as an issue, and there was no evidence his religion played any part in the dismissal decision. The tribunal noted tension in the claimant's case that his Shia Muslim line manager thought well of him and recruited him, yet he alleged senior management were predominantly Shia with antagonism towards Sunnis. The treatment of a comparator (Shia Muslim Mr Haider) was not informative as the circumstances differed materially.

• •Whether claimant was less favourably treated because of his Sunni Muslim faith
• •Whether respondent appointed claimant knowing only Shia Muslims would be made permanent
• •Whether claimant was dismissed due to his religious belief
• •Comparison of treatment with Shia Muslim employee Mr Haider

1 EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS Claimant: Mr K N Sajjad Respondent: Fairfield School of Business Ltd Heard Sheffield ON: 1 and 2 April 2026 BEFORE: Employment Judge Brain Ms G Fleming Mrs J Lee REPRESENTATION: Claimant: Mr Kalule, friend Respondent: Ms Nicholson, litigation consultant JUDGMENT The claimant’s complaints of direct discrimination because of his religion fail and are dismissed. REASONS Introduction 1. This is a complaint of less favourable treatment of the claimant by the respondent because of the claimant’s religious belief. On the afternoon of the second day of the hearing, the Tribunal gave judgment with summary reasons. The Tribunal now gives full written reasons for our judgment. 2. The issues in this case were identified by Employment Judge Davies at a case management hearing held on 2 September 2025. The claimant is a Sunni Muslim. He brings complaints of direct discrimination because of religion or belief against his former employer. He says that he was less favourably treated than others were or would have been because he is a Sunni Muslim and not a Shia Muslim. 2 3. The issues are whether the respondent appointed the claimant to a permanent role in July 2024 but knowing that they would only appoint Shia Muslims to permanent roles at the end of their probationary period; and/or dismissed the claimant in November 2024. 4. It must be observed that the parties’ evidence (particularly that from the respondent) was in many respects unsatisfactory and unhelpful. The Tribunal was left to try to piece the sequence of events together with incomplete evidence and incomplete disclosure, making the timeline difficult to assemble. Findings of fact 5. T…