Muslim case 'dominated' pregnancy

Caroline Elgedawy said she was "relieved" the case was over

A woman who was abused by her boss after she converted to Islam has said the way she was treated hung over her throughout her first pregnancy.

Caroline Elgedawy, 32, from Harrietsham in Kent, won an employment tribunal case on Thursday against Lincoln insurance firm Hanover Park Commercial.

The tribunal ruled she suffered discrimination over remarks made by chief executive Andy Halstead.

Mrs Elgedawy is due to return to work from maternity leave next week.

Dominated pregnancy

But she is still waiting to hear how much compensation she will receive and Mr Halstead has said he "could not possibly comment" on whether she would return to work.

"This should have been a time when I was enjoying my first pregnancy," she said.

"But this has dominated it."

Mrs Elgedawy, who has a baby daughter, became a Muslim after she married her Egyptian husband, Reda, last year.

She told the tribunal in Nottingham Mr Halstead became abusive over her decision to eat only halal meat at the firm's Christmas party.

"I was totally disgusted by his behaviour. He had completely humiliated me," Mrs Elgedawy told the four-day hearing, at which she represented herself.

The firm denied the allegations.

Mrs Elgedawy, 32, who earned £52,000-a-year as head of business information and strategy, told BBC South East Today she was "extremely disappointed" at her treatment.

"There was no reason why I should make up such a story," she said.

"Frankly, I am relieved it is over and now we can start to move on."