A Christian health worker has launched a legal challenge in response to her suspension after she was accused of attempting to convert a Muslim colleague to Christianity.
Ms Wasteney, 39, who had worked as an occupational therapist at the NHS Foundation Trust in East London for more than eight years, was granted permission to appeal the decision back in October and is now returning to court to clear her name.
In early 2014, Victoria Wasteney, a born-again Christian, was suspended with immediate effect after a Muslim colleague resigned and submitted a formal complaint about her behaviour.
Ms Wasteney invited Enya Nawaz to attend her church, prayed for healing over her and offered to giver her a book, I Dared to Call him Father, about woman's conversion from Islam to Christianity. All of these actions were cited in the complaint made by Ms Nawaz.
Referring to the accusations that she had forced her religion on Ms Nawaz when she prayed for her, Ms Wasteney said: "She was very emotional and tearful and was talking to me about her fear of dying. I put my hand on her knew to comfort her – asking her if that was all right – and prayed with her, asking God to heal her...It was a natural and open thing for me to do and she didn't object in any way."
Ms Wasteney considered Ms Nawaz a friend and was reportedly shocked and upset by the complaint. She admits to discussing her faith with Ms Nawaz but says that she was never attempting to convert her to Christianity. "Jesus is a central figure in both religions and we discussed this and other aspects quite openly and comfortably," she said. "It wasn't a case of me trying to convert her, let alone force Christianity on her. How could you?"
An employment tribunal upheld three of the eight complaints against Ms Wasteney's conduct relating to the book she offered Ms Nawaz, her church invitation and her prayer over the junior colleague. During the investigation, Ms Wasteney was suspended from her role for nine months with full pay. As a result of the the investigation she was given a written warning for misconduct.
Ms Wasteney's appeal is being supported by the Christian Legal Centre. Speaking on the initial disciplinary action and Ms Wasteney's experience, Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: "There is a huge and increasing pressure on Christians to hide their identity and not make their views known for fear of being punished or losing their jobs."
