Muslim wins discrimination case against Western Union
16/03/2006 - 07:43:17The Equality Tribunal has awarded €4,000 in compensation to a Muslim man who was discriminated against by Western Union.
Mohammed Haji Hassan, a Somali with Irish citizenship, was trying to collect £50 from the company's money transfer service in Dublin in October 2002, but the firm refused to hand over the money.
It later explained that the payment was suspended because Mr Hassan's name was similar to one on a list of terrorism and organised crime suspects.
The Equality Tribunal found that this, in itself, did not amount to discrimination, but the actions of Western Union in trying to clear the payment breached Mr Hassan's right to equality.
The case is the first ever finding of discrimination on religious grounds under the Equal Status Act.
