In a contentious legal battle, Gozen Soydag, a former pastoral manager at St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls, faces her former employer in the tribunal. Soydag was dismissed from her role due to her social media posts about biblical marriage teachings.

A London school dismissed Gozen Soydag for social media posts it said conflicted with its ethos, leading to her claims of wrongful dismissal and discrimination, The Christian Post reported.

Soydag, 37, joined St. Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls as a pastoral manager in September 2022. Initially, her contributions were praised, particularly in the areas of support for young women, in what was described as a challenging educational environment in North London.

However, the situation took a turn in February 2023 when school officials asked Soydag to make her Instagram account, @wifeinthewaiting, unsearchable on Google. This account, where she has accrued nearly 40,000 followers, features content that promotes marriage principles aligning with biblical teachings, including discussions on wives submitting to their husbands.

Soydag’s posts, which included a video with a Muslim woman discussing similar beliefs about marriage, were seen by school authorities as incompatible with the educational institution's mission and ethos. Subsequently, this led to her dismissal from the school in the same month.

The Ethical Conflict Over Social Media Expression

The Christian Legal Centre, an organization advocating for Christian freedoms, supports Soydag. They argue that her dismissal constitutes discrimination, harassment, and breaches of human rights under the Equality Act 2010. The center contends that Soydag was expressing her beliefs in her own time, on her personal social media account, aimed at adult women, not at her students.

"My social media channels were about sharing hope through the Word of God, especially for women," Soydag stated, emphasizing the inspirational motive behind her posts. She also expressed confusion and dismay over her termination, stating, "I still do not know what I did wrong to warrant being dismissed."

Throughout her tenure and beyond, Soydag maintained that her social media activities were separate from her professional role and were never directed toward her students. She has underscored her history of working with vulnerable individuals and noted her previously unblemished professional record.

Tribunal Review of Employment Rights Act Violation

Additional support from the Christian Legal Centre includes an argument that Soydag’s dismissal violated the Employment Rights Act 1996. They highlight the absence of a finalized written employment contract as part of their claim, suggesting procedural discrepancies in her termination process.

"In this instance, my beliefs and who I am as a Christian were completely excluded. … If this had been anyone else with a belief as part of the 'inclusive' culture, I would have been celebrated and promoted," Soydag argued, indicating a belief that the school’s application of inclusivity was inconsistently applied.

Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of the Christian Legal Centre, commented on the case, "Gozen was doing a fantastic job in a tough area of London, supporting young women in a Catholic school until someone complained about her beliefs expressed in her own time."

Seeking Damages for Breach of Contract

Soydag is now seeking damages for breach of contract and wrongful dismissal, urging the tribunal to recognize the injustice she perceives was done against her freedoms and beliefs. The legal dispute underscores ongoing tensions between personal expressions of faith and professional expectations in secular employment environments.

The tribunal hearing is currently underway and is expected to address the nuances of employment law, religious expression, and discrimination claims. The outcome may set a significant precedent for how personal beliefs are accommodated within professional settings, particularly in faith-based educational institutions.