One of the world's largest financial companies is being sued by a former employee who claims his fellow workers repeatedly called him Osama bin Laden and a terrorist, and spoke about killing Muslims.

Mohammed Khan, 32, is suing Citigroup, alleging that managers joined in the racist and anti-Islamic abuse he suffered for 18 months. He claims the prejudice in a London office of the US-based financial giant led to him being unfairly sacked from his £55,000-a-year job as an equities trader.

Citigroup has said it is investigating, but has rejected all Mr Khan's charges, according to company documents seen by the Guardian.

He joined the company in April 2002. According to the documents, he alleged that after a month a worker called him Osama bin Laden. Later another worker apparently said to Mr Khan, whose parents are from Pakistan: "Why don't you go back to Karachi."

Mr Khan, a Cambridge graduate, claimed that in September a colleague said to him: "You terrorist, Osama bin Laden, don't worry we will take you on." One manager allegedly told him: "I have a severe bullying streak in me."

Mr Khan claimed people at the company were openly dismissive of employment equality, with one colleague saying in October: "All this diversity bullshit, these women _ "

Also that month, Mr Khan said, two colleagues said: "Your cousins in Bradford are taking the piss." In another alleged episode, a worker said: "They won't fire you because you are a Paki and gay."

In the run-up to the Iraq war, one worker allegedly dismissed Muslim protesters by saying: "I think we need to send half these people back."

He claimed he had been frozen out by managers and colleagues, and that when a new boss started every employee was taken out for lunch except him.

In January last year, as the war loomed, a colleague told him he would look "just like Saddam" if he had a moustache, and later added: "We should just nuke and kill half of the Arabs and Muslims. That will sort out all these problems."

Another worker allegedly fantasised about beating British Muslims, saying: "I will be in Birmingham and Bradford with my baseball bat when world war three breaks out, booting them out."

The same colleague is said to have taunted Mr Khan, saying: "You have been killing our soldiers in Pakistan, now it's our turn to kill some of your lot," before adding: "I am happy to pay my taxes so they can kill Muslims."

In March a manager allegedly called him a terrorist, saying: "Are you a sleeper? Don't worry we will put you down."

Mr Khan's statement of claim says: "Throughout his period of employment _ the applicant was subjected to discrimination and harassment on the grounds of his race and religion, taunts and bullying on a regular basis by various members of [his] team, including members of management."

In November Mr Khan was told he was being made redundant because of "poor performance". He claimed he had been one of the highest revenue earners in his team, and had received pay rises for good performance twice in the preceding year.

According to Mr Khan's statement: "The applicant believes that this reason was fabricated to conceal the fact that he was dismissed on the grounds of his race, religion or ethnic origin."

In a statement the company said: "Citigroup takes any allegation of race discrimination very seriously and we take action consistent with our position as an equal opportunities employer."

It declined to say what, if any, action it had taken. The case is expected to be heard by an employment tribunal within months.

Source: The Guardian
Date: 9th Apri 2004