A FORMER worker at a Blackburn drugs charity has claimed she was the victim of racial discrimination.

Zaida Ali, 39, worked for Lifeline Project Ltd, based in Darwen Street, as a substance misuse case worker from Febraury 2009 until her dismissal four months later.

At a tribunal hearing in Manchester yesterday, Mrs Ali, of Great Harwood, said her dismissal was 'the last in a series of discriminating acts that violated my dignity'.

Mrs Ali said that her supervisor had made a series of comments that were offensive to her Muslim beliefs, and had 'deliberately treated her differently' to other staff of the same level.

The tribunal heard she claimed racist comments had left her feeling 'extremely stressed and anxious' and she was now being prescribed a range of anti-anxiety medication.

She claimed that her supervisor, on returning to the office from a beauty salon, said: “Asian people have padded faces and are very hairy.”

And after an interview with a young substance abuser, Mrs Ali claims she was told to 'speak English and not gibberish'.

Mrs Ali said: “I didn’t think in this day and age, that such discrimination would take place.”

She also claims that her team leader Terri Egan failed to act on her worries after speaking to her in confidence.

On July 10 last year, Mrs Ali was dismissed from her probationary contract after a worker from NACRO, a partner organisation which offers training to young offenders, complained about an incident she was involved in.

The man was verbally abused and had a pen thrown at him by a young man he refused to help.

Mrs Ali had arranged the meeting on an ad-hoc basis and was present during the confrontation.

Mrs Ali said: “I deny any wrong-doing and believe I was unfairly dismissed.”

She is claiming loss of earnings and payment of outstanding expenses.

Lifeline provides confidential help, advice and information to drug users aged 25 and under and their families.

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