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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
