Latest news with #Islamaphobic
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Teacher Fired Over Facebook Post Launches Legal Action
A teacher in England who was fired after being accused of an Islamaphobic post on Facebook has launched a legal action. Simon Pearson taught English to foreign students at Preston College, in Lancashire, when he said a social media post that led to a woman being handed a 15-month prison sentence after she was convicted of inciting racial hatred was "obviously wrong" but she "should not have been jailed." He was dismissed after an internal investigation found that his post had the potential to bring the college into disrepute and has now filed legal action with an employment tribunal. Pearson's fate has sparked sharp criticism from free speech advocates and reignited broader debates around freedom of expression in Britain. Critics argue that speech policing, especially on social media, increasingly leads to employment repercussions, even when comments are made outside the workplace and express personal beliefs. Elon Musk has repeatedly criticized the U.K.'s approach to regulating speech on social media, particularly in the context of arrests related to online comments. "At this rate, the UK Government will pretty soon be executing people for liking a meme!" he posted on X, formerly Twitter, in January. The U.S. State Department has previously spoken out about the same case as Pearson, saying in May that is was "concerned about infringements on freedom of expression." Pearson, 56, was fired after he posted a comment about Lucy Connolly, a woman jailed for racially inflammatory comments in the wake of the Southport riots—nationwide unrest triggered by the murder of three girls during a dance class and misinformation about the suspect being an asylum seeker. Connolly, the wife of a local Conservative Party politician, wrote on X: "Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care…if that makes me racist so be it." She was convicted of inciting racial hatred, handed a 31-month sentence and ordered to serve 40 percent of it behind bars in October 2024. Pearson wrote in a Facebook comment that while Connolly's post was "obviously wrong," she "should not have been jailed" and said this was part of "two tier policy from the top down." The phrase "two-tier policing" has become a politically charged accusation in the U.K., often used to criticize perceived inconsistencies in how law enforcement handles speech, protest, or criminal behavior depending on the race, religion, or political identity of the individuals involved. Critics of "two-tier policing" argue that authorities are more lenient toward minority groups—particularly in cases involving Islamist or pro-Palestinian demonstrators, while opponents argue that this framing often serves as a dog whistle, disguising racial resentment or Islamophobia under the banner of fairness and justice. A Muslim representative of the National Education Union at Preston College made a formal complaint about Pearson's post accusing it of being "Islamophobic" and "racially discriminatory." This triggered the investigation that ended in Pearson being fired. He is now claiming wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. "I cannot allow what has happened to me to go unchallenged. It is a grave injustice that should concern everybody who cares about freedom," he told the British newspaper The Telegraph. "I am determined to fight for justice and for the freedom to raise legitimate concerns in public and private as part of national debates on extremely serious issues that impact us all." Newsweek has contacted Preston College, via email, for comment. Simon Pearson's full Facebook comment: "The woman who made that appalling comment about the mosque in Southport is obviously wrong. But where is the jail sentence for the Labour MP calling for people to have their throats slit. Where is the justice meted out against those thugs who beat up the police at Manchester airport? She should not have been jailed for that. People presumed the worst and were outraged by the killing of three little girls. "It was wrong but how many Islamists plots and crimes have been experienced in our country. The Manchester Arena bombing, Lee Rigby, etc... Certain sections of society calling for the genocide of Jews from the river to the sea are also free to express their opinions and make Jewish people afraid to walk the streets. "There is a two tier policy from the top down. Has our country's woke leadership lost its mind? Should we be seeking asylum in America?" Founder of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton said: "The most striking aspect of this case is that the teacher was sacked at the behest of the NEU. Once upon a time, trade unions used to stick up for workers threatened with the sack for speaking out of turn. Now, they side with management and actively try to get workers sacked, including their dues-paying members." Head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service, Frank Ferguson, said about the Connolly case: "Using threatening, abusive or insulting language to rile up racism online is unacceptable and is breaking the law." The U.S. State Department commented on the Connolly case in May, saying: "We can confirm that we are monitoring this matter. The United States supports freedom of expression at home and abroad, and remains concerned about infringements on freedom of expression." An employment tribunal will decide whether Pearson's dismissal was fair and lawful. A date for the hearing has yet to be confirmed. The case comes amid wider debate over free speech rights in the U.K., particularly as public figures such as Musk have expressed concern about government responses to social media posts. Related Articles Laura Loomer Files New Supreme Court Petition-'Accountability Is Coming'Shelter Scans Stray Dog's Microchip-Unprepared for the Call That FollowsTears as Shelter Dog With Broken Teeth Patiently Waits To Be NoticedNeighbor Rescues Injured Cat-X-Ray Reveals the Unthinkable 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Teacher Fired Over Facebook Post Launches Legal Action
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A teacher in England who was fired after being accused of an Islamaphobic post on Facebook has launched a legal action. Simon Pearson taught English to foreign students at Preston College, in Lancashire, when he said a social media post that led to a woman being handed a 15-month prison sentence after she was convicted of inciting racial hatred was "obviously wrong" but she "should not have been jailed." He was dismissed after an internal investigation found that his post had the potential to bring the college into disrepute and has now filed legal action with an employment tribunal. A file photo shows a Facebook logo on a laptop. A file photo shows a Facebook logo on a laptop. AP Why It Matters Pearson's fate has sparked sharp criticism from free speech advocates and reignited broader debates around freedom of expression in Britain. Critics argue that speech policing, especially on social media, increasingly leads to employment repercussions, even when comments are made outside the workplace and express personal beliefs. Elon Musk has repeatedly criticized the U.K.'s approach to regulating speech on social media, particularly in the context of arrests related to online comments. "At this rate, the UK Government will pretty soon be executing people for liking a meme!" he posted on X, formerly Twitter, in January. The U.S. State Department has previously spoken out about the same case as Pearson, saying in May that is was "concerned about infringements on freedom of expression." What To Know Pearson, 56, was fired after he posted a comment about Lucy Connolly, a woman jailed for racially inflammatory comments in the wake of the Southport riots—nationwide unrest triggered by the murder of three girls during a dance class and misinformation about the suspect being an asylum seeker. Connolly, the wife of a local Conservative Party politician, wrote on X: "Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care…if that makes me racist so be it." She was convicted of inciting racial hatred, handed a 31-month sentence and ordered to serve 40 percent of it behind bars in October 2024. Pearson wrote in a Facebook comment that while Connolly's post was "obviously wrong," she "should not have been jailed" and said this was part of "two tier policy from the top down." The phrase "two-tier policing" has become a politically charged accusation in the U.K., often used to criticize perceived inconsistencies in how law enforcement handles speech, protest, or criminal behavior depending on the race, religion, or political identity of the individuals involved. Critics of "two-tier policing" argue that authorities are more lenient toward minority groups—particularly in cases involving Islamist or pro-Palestinian demonstrators, while opponents argue that this framing often serves as a dog whistle, disguising racial resentment or Islamophobia under the banner of fairness and justice. A Muslim representative of the National Education Union at Preston College made a formal complaint about Pearson's post accusing it of being "Islamophobic" and "racially discriminatory." This triggered the investigation that ended in Pearson being fired. He is now claiming wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. "I cannot allow what has happened to me to go unchallenged. It is a grave injustice that should concern everybody who cares about freedom," he told the British newspaper The Telegraph. "I am determined to fight for justice and for the freedom to raise legitimate concerns in public and private as part of national debates on extremely serious issues that impact us all." Newsweek has contacted Preston College, via email, for comment. What People Are Saying Simon Pearson's full Facebook comment: "The woman who made that appalling comment about the mosque in Southport is obviously wrong. But where is the jail sentence for the Labour MP calling for people to have their throats slit. Where is the justice meted out against those thugs who beat up the police at Manchester airport? She should not have been jailed for that. People presumed the worst and were outraged by the killing of three little girls. "It was wrong but how many Islamists plots and crimes have been experienced in our country. The Manchester Arena bombing, Lee Rigby, etc... Certain sections of society calling for the genocide of Jews from the river to the sea are also free to express their opinions and make Jewish people afraid to walk the streets. "There is a two tier policy from the top down. Has our country's woke leadership lost its mind? Should we be seeking asylum in America?" Founder of the Free Speech Union, Lord Young of Acton said: "The most striking aspect of this case is that the teacher was sacked at the behest of the NEU. Once upon a time, trade unions used to stick up for workers threatened with the sack for speaking out of turn. Now, they side with management and actively try to get workers sacked, including their dues-paying members." Head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Service, Frank Ferguson, said about the Connolly case: "Using threatening, abusive or insulting language to rile up racism online is unacceptable and is breaking the law." The U.S. State Department commented on the Connolly case in May, saying: "We can confirm that we are monitoring this matter. The United States supports freedom of expression at home and abroad, and remains concerned about infringements on freedom of expression." What Happens Next An employment tribunal will decide whether Pearson's dismissal was fair and lawful. A date for the hearing has yet to be confirmed. The case comes amid wider debate over free speech rights in the U.K., particularly as public figures such as Musk have expressed concern about government responses to social media posts.
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Teacher branded ‘Islamaphobic' and SACKED after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as ‘two-tier policing'
Simon described Connolly's post as "obviously wrong" but went on to say her imprisonment was "two tier policy from the top down" 'TWO-TIER' FURY Teacher branded 'Islamaphobic' and SACKED after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as 'two-tier policing' A TEACHER who was branded "Islamophobic" has been sacked after saying Lucy Connolly's prison sentence was 'two-tier policing'. Simon Pearson taught English to foreign language students at Preston College in Lancashire. 4 Lucy Connolly, 41, was sent to prison for 31 months in October after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 4 Her tweet was viewed more than 300,000 times before she deleted it Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 4 She will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, The Sun understands Credit: PA The 56-year-old was removed following an internal investigation after posting about Connolly - who was handed a 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post following last year's Southport riots. Simon described Connolly's post as "obviously wrong" but went on to say her imprisonment was "two tier policy from the top down". He was dismissed after a complaint from a Muslim rep of the NEU accused him of being 'Islamophobic' and 'racially discriminatory'. The teacher said he apologised and claimed to have provided evidence of his support for both Muslim students and asylum seekers. But it was found that the posts were a violation of the college's policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute. Simon has now started legal action, which has been filed at an employment tribunal, with claims of wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. He told The Telegraph: 'I am appalled by the way I've been treated. I've dedicated my life to education and to supporting students from all walks of life. 'Yet as soon as I was branded 'Islamophobic' for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man. "It was clear that I had to be found guilty by the college, it became a witch hunt, and I had to be eliminated no matter what.' Lucy Connolly, 41, was sent to prison for 31 months in October after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred. She will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, The Sun understands. Her tweet, which was viewed more than 300,000 times before she deleted it, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f* hotels full of the b** for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.' It had been prompted by false rumours that the suspect behind the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport was an illegal immigrant. Connolly, from Northampton, the wife of a former Tory councillor, lost an appeal to reduce her sentence in May. Nigel Farage has previously called for her release and called her jail term 'absolutely excessive'. But Sir Keir Starmer has defended the sentence, saying he would 'always support' the UK court system. A spokesperson for the NEU said: "The management of Preston College reached a decision to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures. "The NEU was not directly involved in these processes and it will be for the Employment Tribunal to consider the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing."
Scottish Sun
7 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Teacher branded ‘Islamaphobic' and SACKED after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as ‘two-tier policing'
Simon described Connolly's post as "obviously wrong" but went on to say her imprisonment was "two tier policy from the top down" 'TWO-TIER' FURY Teacher branded 'Islamaphobic' and SACKED after describing Lucy Connolly's prison sentence as 'two-tier policing' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEACHER who was branded "Islamophobic" has been sacked after saying Lucy Connolly's prison sentence was 'two-tier policing'. Simon Pearson taught English to foreign language students at Preston College in Lancashire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Lucy Connolly, 41, was sent to prison for 31 months in October after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 4 Her tweet was viewed more than 300,000 times before she deleted it Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 4 She will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, The Sun understands Credit: PA The 56-year-old was removed following an internal investigation after posting about Connolly - who was handed a 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred in a social media post following last year's Southport riots. Simon described Connolly's post as "obviously wrong" but went on to say her imprisonment was "two tier policy from the top down". He was dismissed after a complaint from a Muslim rep of the NEU accused him of being 'Islamophobic' and 'racially discriminatory'. The teacher said he apologised and claimed to have provided evidence of his support for both Muslim students and asylum seekers. But it was found that the posts were a violation of the college's policies, damaging of professional relationships and likely to bring the college's reputation into disrepute. Simon has now started legal action, which has been filed at an employment tribunal, with claims of wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. He told The Telegraph: 'I am appalled by the way I've been treated. I've dedicated my life to education and to supporting students from all walks of life. 'Yet as soon as I was branded 'Islamophobic' for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man. "It was clear that I had to be found guilty by the college, it became a witch hunt, and I had to be eliminated no matter what.' Lucy Connolly, 41, was sent to prison for 31 months in October after being found guilty of inciting racial hatred. She will go free from HMP Peterborough in August having served 40 per cent of her term, The Sun understands. Her tweet, which was viewed more than 300,000 times before she deleted it, said: 'Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f* hotels full of the b** for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.' It had been prompted by false rumours that the suspect behind the murder of three girls at a dance class in Southport was an illegal immigrant. Connolly, from Northampton, the wife of a former Tory councillor, lost an appeal to reduce her sentence in May. Nigel Farage has previously called for her release and called her jail term 'absolutely excessive'. But Sir Keir Starmer has defended the sentence, saying he would 'always support' the UK court system. A spokesperson for the NEU said: "The management of Preston College reached a decision to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures. "The NEU was not directly involved in these processes and it will be for the Employment Tribunal to consider the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing."
Black America Web
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Black America Web
Op-Ed: Bigoted MAGA Republican Wants To Deport NYC Mayoral Nominee Zohran Mamdani, Calling Him ‘Little Muhamaad'
Source: Pool / Getty White conservatives have often claimed they're fine with immigrants so long as they come to the U.S. 'the right way,' meaning legally. This has always been a lie, and now they're revealing that truth to anyone who didn't already know it. If the notion that conservatives only objected to immigrants residing in the U.S. when their paperwork wasn't in order wasn't a big, fat lie, Republican voters would be far more outraged that their leaders are now calling on President Donald Trump to denaturalize and deport Zohran Mamdani. As we previously reported, MAGA supporters across the MAGA-net , including GOP leaders, had gone into full meltdown mode over news that Mamdani had clinched the Democratic nomination in New York City's mayoral race, defeating former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and, apparently, pissing in the Cheerios of Islamaphobic bigots across America. Well, the frantic attacks on Mamdani have increased exponentially since — *checks notes* — Tuesday, and now even lawmakers, who should know there's no precedent, cause or logic behind it, are calling for Mamdani, who was 7 years old when he and his parents migrated to the U.S., to be stripped of his citizenship. On Thursday, Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) posted on X: 'Zohran 'little muhammad' Mamdani is an antisemitic, socialist, communist who will destroy the great City of New York. He needs to be DEPORTED. Which is why I am calling for him to be subject to denaturalization proceedings.' Attached to his post was a screenshot of a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi, urging her to open an investigation into Mamdani. Before we get to how far and wide Ogles is reaching in suggesting a legal reason to deport Mamdani, let's take a look at the way the congressman began his tweet with explicit racism, right before accusing the presumptive Democratic nominee of being antisemitic. Who the hell is 'little Muhammad?' Mamdani is Muslim, and, as mentioned earlier, white conservatives have not been shy about making his faith and ethnicity the central focus of their objection to him. 'Little Muhammad' isn't some cute nickname he came up with for himself, and he's never been referred to as such in the media or by anyone else publicly. So, it appears that Ogles is quoting himself in a reference to the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, which would make 'little Muhammad' an ethnic slur, not that it would matter to xenophobic hypocrites who are only pretending to care about antisemitism to mask their own bigotry. Another thing to note is that, like many MAGA Republicans, including Trump himself, Ogles has blindly accused Mamdani of being a communist, an allegation that is substantiated by absolutely nothing, but bolstered by the fact that your average MAGA conservative has no damn clue what communism actually is. From Al Jazeera: Mamdani's platform calls for making transportation, housing and groceries more affordable, but experts say he hasn't espoused key tenets of communism, such as government takeover of industry and private property. 'Mamdani is NOT a communist,' wrote Anna Grzymala-Busse, Stanford University professor of international studies, in an email to PolitiFact. 'Communism involves a centrally planned economy, with no market forces. Prices and quantities are set by a central government authority. There is no democratic political competition, and instead a single party rules the country. He is not calling for any of this.' Unsurprisingly, Ogles believes Bondi can legally denaturalize and deport Mamdani, not because he has committed a crime — because he hasn't — but because, eight years ago, he expressed views that anti-Palestine conservatives might find offensive. Ogles cited a chapter from the U.S. Code that outlines the revocation of citizenship for individuals who willfully misrepresent or conceal material support for terrorism. From The Hill: 'According to public reports, including a June 21, 2025 New York Post article, Mr. Mamdani expressed open solidarity with individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses prior to becoming a U.S. citizen. Specifically, he rapped: 'Free the Holy Land Five / My guys,'' Ogles wrote in the letter. The Holy Land Foundation is a U.S.-based Muslim charity. Five of its leaders were convicted of funneling money to Hamas in support of Palestine in 2008. 'Publicly praising the Foundation's convicted leadership as 'my guys' raises serious concerns about whether Mr. Mamdani held affiliations or sympathies he failed to disclose during the naturalization process,' Ogles wrote. The Trump administration cited similar obscure legislation to justify the detention and deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist who also had not committed a crime. Khalil still faces a formal trial, but a federal judge ruled that he can't be deported without due process just because the White House doesn't agree with his views. Even Ogles seems to be aware that what he's trying to do violates the First Amendment, but as Trump supporters across the nation have shown, the Constitution ends where their unbridled xenophobia begins. 'While I understand that some may raise First Amendment concerns about taking legal action based on expressive conduct, such as rap lyrics, speech alone does not preclude accountability where it reasonably suggests underlying conduct relevant to eligibility for naturalization,' Ogles wrote. Again, this man is going to pull every muscle in his body with that reach. It would be nice if Ogles and all the other Republican leaders and groups who are calling for Mamdani's deportation would just admit they're doing it for the same reason every conservative justice on the U.S. Supreme Court voted Friday to aid Trump in his war against birthright citizenship. It was never about the legality of Black and brown migrants living here. It was always about reinforcing white nationalism; they prove it every day! SEE ALSO: MAGA Racists Predictably Melt Down Over Muslim NYC Mayoral Candidate Zohran Mamdani's Win After Winning NYC's Democratic Mayoral Primary, Zohran Mamdani Reaffirms Support For Reparations SEE ALSO Op-Ed: Bigoted MAGA Republican Wants To Deport NYC Mayoral Nominee Zohran Mamdani, Calling Him 'Little Muhamaad' was originally published on
