A Christian teacher sacked over Facebook posts that were described as ‘Islamophobic’ has launched legal motion.
In one in every of the posts, made privately to his Facebook friends, Simon Pearson, 56, defended police actions in a violent incident at Manchester Airport last yr. Mohammed Amaaz, a 20-year-old student, was found guilty last week of attacking two female cops on the airport and has been remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing.
In a second post, Mr Pearson criticised the jailing of Lucy Connolly for inciting racial hatred in a tweet following the murder of three children in Southport last yr. He said that although her comments were “obviously flawed”, her imprisonment was an example of “two-tier policing”.
He was investigated and, despite apologising for any offence caused, was sacked from his teaching position by Preston College after the Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the school complained about his posts.
Pearson, supported by the Christian Legal Centre, has filed an Employment Tribunal claim for wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination.
His legal team argues that his posts were protected expressions of his Christian and philosophical beliefs.
They will cite the 2025 Court of Appeal ruling in favour of Kristie Higgs, a Christian teaching assistance who was sacked by a college in the same freedom-of-expression case.
Commenting on his decision to take legal motion, Mr Pearson said he had been the victim of a “witch hunt”.
“I’m appalled by the best way I’ve been treated,” he said.
“I’ve dedicated my life to education and to supporting students from all walks of life. I used to be upset by the CCTV footage, especially the attacks on the feminine officers.
“Yet as soon as I used to be branded ‘Islamophobic’ for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man. It was clear that I needed to be found guilty by the College, it became a witch hunt, and I needed to be eliminated irrespective of what.”
In the primary post on 28 July 2024 through which he commented on the Manchester Airport incident, Mr Pearson wrote: “What brave police endured before that was not shown by these two savages and the leftist woke media. If these people haven’t any respect for the police and UK law, they need deporting back to their ancestral home and their property confiscated by the state. They deserved all they got in return and more. The police deserve a medal.”
Regarding Lucy Connolly’s case, he wrote in one other post to Facebook on 30 July 2024: “The woman who made that appalling comment in regards to the mosque in Southport is clearly flawed. But where is the jail sentence for the Labour MP calling for people to have their throats slit. Where is the justice meeted it [sic] against those thugs who beat up the police at Manchester airport? She shouldn’t have been jailed for that. People presumed the worst and were outraged by the killing of three little girls. It was flawed but what number of 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 ocean are so also free to specific their opinions and make Jewish people afraid to walk the streets. There is a two-tier policy from the highest down. Has our country’s woke leadership lost its mind? Should we be in search of asylum in America?”
He was referencing suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones who’s to face trial this month over comments he made in reference to last summer’s riots.
Mr Pearson said he was determined to fight for justice after his sacking.
“I cannot allow what has happened to me to go unchallenged,” he said.
“It is a grave injustice that ought to concern everybody who cares about freedom. I’m determined to fight for justice and for the liberty to boost legitimate concerns in private and non-private as a part of national debates on extremely serious issues that impact us all.”
Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, commented: “This case highlights the damaging consequences of the vague and weaponised use of the term ‘Islamophobia’.
“In a free and democratic society, we must give you the chance to debate public events and express concern about violence and injustice without fear of losing our livelihoods.
“The definition of Islamophobia is getting used to silence legitimate speech and punish those that dare to talk out. We stand firmly behind this teacher and his right to freedom of expression.”
Commenting on the case, Lord Young of Acton, founding father of the Free Speech Union, told The Telegraph newspaper: “The most striking aspect of this case is that the teacher was sacked on the behest of the NEU.
“Once upon a time, trade unions used to stay up for employees threatened with the sack for speaking out of turn. Now, they side with management and actively attempt to get employees sacked, including their dues-paying members.”
A spokesperson for the NEU said: “The management of Preston College reached a choice to dismiss the teacher following disciplinary procedures.
“The NEU was circuitously involved in these processes and it can be for the Employment Tribunal to think about the fairness of the dismissal if and when the claim reaches a hearing.”
Preston College has been contacted for comment.
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