Forced to Work as ‘Antoine,' Mohamed Wins Lawsuit After 20 Years of Discrimination in France
Rabat – For 20 years, Mohamed Amghar went to work under a name that wasn't his. Hired in 1997 by Intergraph France, a technology company, Mohamed was asked to stop using his real name and start going by 'Antoine.'
Now, after a long legal battle, a French court has ruled in his favor. The court found that Intergraph France discriminated against Mohamed because of his name, committed moral harassment, and violated his privacy. The company was ordered to pay him €30,000 in damages.
'The pain is still there. It's 20 years of my life,' Mohamed told Le Parisien after the court's decision.
Mohamed had just completed a successful job interview in late 1996 when his future manager asked him to use a different name. Mohamed, shocked and ashamed, accepted the condition.
He never received an explanation. But he believes it was because his boss thought a name like 'Mohamed' would hurt sales and scare clients. 'It's racism. It's discrimination,' Mohamed said.
Although he knew it was wrong, Mohamed stayed. He was in his 40s, had three children, and had already left his previous job. Over the years, he became a top salesman, winning company awards and earning good money, but always under the name 'Antoine.' Mohamed Amghar
After leaving the company in 2017, Mohamed took legal action. In 2018, his lawyer tried to settle the matter quietly, but Intergraph denied responsibility. The company even suggested that Mohamed may have chosen the name himself.
He then took the case to labor court in France, but lost in 2022. Mohamed then decided to appeal and finally, in 2025, the court ruled in his favor.
The court said the employer failed to explain why the name 'Antoine' was used and could not prove that Mohamed had asked for the name change.
While Mohamed was happy to finally receive recognition, the damages awarded, €30,000, feel small to him. 'This isn't enough to stop others from doing the same. For a billion-euro company, it means nothing,' he said.
Mohamed's story is not unique, as many people with Muslim names or North African backgrounds face pressure to hide their identity to fit in or avoid discrimination in France. Tags: ArabFranceIslamophobiamuslim
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
17 hours ago
- Morocco World
Assets of Tebboune's Sons in France Face Potential Asset-Freezing Measures
Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune could face a new scandal amid reports on France's potential freezing of the assets of about 20 Algerian dignitaries. Mohamed Sifaoui, a French-Algerian investigative journalist, has revealed that two of Tebboune's sons, Mohamed and Khaleld, hold assets in France. Sifaoui made his remarks during an interview with Algerian journalist Abdou Semmar. During the interview published this week, the journalist claimed that while Tebboune may have no assets in France, his sons do. These assets could be seized and frozen by French authorities, which would see bilateral tensions escalate even further since the two countries started exchanging hostile diplomatic decisions in the aftermath of France's endorsement of Morocco's position on the Western Sahara dispute. Sifaoui made several other revelations, including pointing out the abuse of power by the Algerian regime. He said that Mohamed Tebboune was entrusted by his father with a government advisory role despite his lack of experience. Mohamed Tebboune also has connections with Turkish businessmen, he suggested, adding that this would eventually land him in jail when his father's mandate ends. 'They own commercial properties, stock assets, etc. What we call financial assets in other words, wealth… both of them have assets in France,' the Algerian journalist said, noting that this is 'confirmed information.' The journalist slammed the Algerian president for criticizing France while his sons have financial holdings there, noting that he not only relies on information from government reports but also verifies and fact-checks information himself. 'That's why I haven't published it yet,' he said. 'I have the names and will probably publish them by the end of the week. But among those are the two sons of Abdelmadjid Tebboune.' Sifaoui and his interviewer then both launched into a debate about the hypocrisy of the Algerian ruling class, slamming Algeria's establishment for claiming to adopt an anti-French policy while their children and families hold active assets in France. This is not the only bombshell revelation Sifaoui made about the Algerian regime's involvement in similar scandals. Beyond the regime's interference in the domestic affairs of other countries, a new comprehensive investigation has shed light on clandestine operations allegedly orchestrated by the Algerian regime on French soil. Last month, French outlet Le Journal du Dimanche reported that, under President Tebboune, the Algerian government has been actively involved in a campaign to suppress opposition voices abroad. A senior French security official, speaking on condition of anonymity to the news outlet, said: 'We possess reliable intelligence confirming that Algerian services did not act independently.' This includes attempts to abduct or intimidate prominent dissidents residing in France, such as YouTube r Amir DZ and journalist Abdou Semmar. Algeria and France have experienced political tensions for months. According to L'Express, France is now considering freezing the assets of several dignitaries of the Algerian regime. There have also been exchanges of hostile measures from both countries, including travel restrictions against officials from both sides. In recent years, both countries have taken measures to expel officials or made other similar measures. In May, diplomatic sources told AFP that Algeria was planning to expel more French officials. In response, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot confirmed that ties between France and Algeria were 'completely frozen.' Tags: algeria and francerelations between Algeria and France
Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara Bans Opposition to Consolidate Power
Rabat – Cote d'Ivoire's young democratic journey is backsliding as the incumbent president looks to tighten his grip on a presidency he is no longer supposed to run for. In a move aimed at strengthening his position of power in the Ivorian political makeup, President Alassane Ouattara has banned the most influential presidential candidates from the 2025 election. President Ouattara originally came to power in 2010 after an election against then incumbent president Laurent Gbagbo turned into a civil war, which killed 3000 people. Ouattara changed the constitution in 2016 to allow himself to run for a third term in 2020, and Ivorians fear he will stand again for reelection in 2025. He has also been accused of gradually becoming increasingly autocratic throughout his presidency. A popular opposition figure, particularly among young voters, Tidjane Thiam of the Democratic and Peace Party had been rising quickly in the polls. In addition to being the nephew of the country's first President Houphouet-Boigny, Thiam is widely perceived as experienced and competent to run a country that often prides itself as the economic leader in Francophone West Africa. Disqualifying popular candidates Despite Thiam receiving overwhelming support within his party and his popularity among younger Ivorians, a court blocked his bid to become presidential candidate in April 2025. The court notably cast doubt on Thiam's Ivorian nationality, arguing that his holding of French citizenship made him unreliable as the future leader of a sovereign nation. Thiam has contested what he sees as a political trial, noting that he had renounced his French citizenship long before launching his bid to become president of Cote d'Ivoire. And this week, in a decision that has polarized the West African nation and sent it into crisis, the Independent Electoral Commission announced banning Tidjane Thiam from the electoral list. Even more controversially, the ban applies to three other candidates whose popularity and political influence could prove a headache for President Ouattara's camp in any election: former president Laurent Gbagbo, former youth leader and political organizer Charles Blé Goudé, and former Ouattara acolyte Guillaume Soro. A very dependent electoral commission In a telling sign of political intervention from the presidential camp, the Commission contentiously stated that this list is definitive and would not be revised under any circumstances prior to the October elections. Both independent observers and supporters of the banned presidential hopefuls have accused Ouattara of illegally disqualifying his most formidable opponents to centralize power. Once hailed in the West as the savior of Ivorian democracy, President Ouattara is now roundly denounced by his opponents and some of his former advocates in the Western press as a power-hungry agent of democratic backsliding in the West African nation. Thiam has called on the UN to oppose Ouattara's dictatorial project, arguing that the past few years have seen Cote d'Ivoire 'slide towards a total lack of democracy.' Other candidates are qualified to participate in the coming elections, however. These include former First Lady Simone Ehivet Gbagbo and former Minister of Commerce Jean-Louis Billon. But neither of these candidates have the same popular support as Thiam and the other banned contenders. While it is not clear whether the media protestations of the banned candidates will bear any meaningful fruit on the actual political scene, one thing is for certain: this decision means that the October elections will be deeply divisive. Tags: Cote d'Ivoireivory coastOuattarapolitics
Morocco World
a day ago
- Morocco World
Trump Bans Travel to US From 12 Countries, Citing National Security
Rabat – US President Donald Trump has signed a new order banning citizens from 12 countries from entering the United States, presenting the decision as needed to protect national security. These countries include Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. The ban will take effect on June 9, 2025, at 12:01 a.m. (EDT). In a video posted on X, Trump said, 'We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm.' He added that the list of countries could change in the future. Travel from seven other countries will also be restricted, but not completely banned. These include Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela. Trump said these countries were chosen because they have a 'large-scale presence of terrorists,' poor security cooperation, problems verifying traveler identities, and high numbers of people who overstay their visas. Visas that were already issued before June 9 will remain valid, according to the order. Somalia quickly responded, with its ambassador to the US, Dahir Hassan Abdi, saying his country wants to work with Washington to fix security issues. 'Somalia values its relationship with the United States and stands ready to engage in dialogue,' he said. Meanwhile, Venezuela's government criticized the move. Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called the US fascist and said being in the country is now risky for Venezuelans. 'They persecute our people for no reason,' he added. Trump's latest move is part of a bigger immigration crackdown launched during his second term. His administration also deported this year hundreds of Venezuelans suspected of gang ties and placed limits on foreign students. In 2017, during his first term, Trump announced a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries. That policy faced legal challenges but was upheld by the US Supreme Court in 2018. President Joe Biden later removed that ban in 2021, calling it 'a stain on our national conscience.' Trump is now bringing back tough restrictions, arguing they are necessary to protect the US. He pointed to a recent incident in Boulder, Colorado, where a man attacked a crowd marching in support of Israeli hostages in Gaza.
