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Fear for employee's safety no defence against race discrimination charge
Amnesty International v Ahmed
FACTS Miss Bashair Ahmed, who is of northern Sudanese ethnic origin, was employed as a campaigner on issues relating to Sudan by Amnesty International. In 2007, she was considered for promotion to the position of researcher for Sudan. She was shortlisted for the post, but wasn't appointed.
Amnesty International had concerns about staff of a particular nationality or national or ethnic origin undertaking work in or related to their country of origin. One was that their impartiality or perceived impartiality might be prejudiced, with Implications for their effectiveness and the organisation's reputation. The other was that the employee in question might be at greater risk of ill treatment or violence when visiting the country in question.
In relation to Ahmed, Amnesty International concluded that these concerns meant that she should not be appointed to the post. In particular, it...