UK: Women Press Freedom Denounces CNN’s Legal Battle Against Saima Mohsin’s Unfair Dismissal Case
September 5, 2024 - United Kingdom, London
Women Press Freedom condemns CNN’s efforts to block Saima Mohsin's case for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.
Injured while reporting in Israel, Saima was unfairly dismissed and has faced ongoing legal battles.
Despite her victory in taking the case to a UK tribunal, CNN appealed this decision, with a hearing on September 5, and has been granted permission to proceed with their appeal.
Journalists must be protected, not punished, for injuries sustained on the job.
-
CNN has been granted permission to proceed with their appeal against an Employment Tribunal's decision to grant disabled journalist Saima Mohsin the right to have her case heard in the UK.
British Presenter and International Correspondent, Saima Mohsin was injured while on assignment in Jerusalem for CNN in 2014. CNN terminated her contract in 2017 when she requested alternative duties and support during her post-injury rehabilitation programme. Saima had a breakdown and suffered from depression. She eventually learnt to control her foot again and become “weight-bearing” again through extensive physiotherapy but lives in constant pain – and is often bed-ridden with pain. She now has to use a walking stick and cannot work full time.
Her claim in the Employment Tribunal is for unfair dismissal, disability discrimination, victimisation, failure to make reasonable
adjustments and equal pay.
CNN denies her claims and had contested her ability to seek justice in the UK by claiming the Employment Tribunal in the United Kingdom did not have jurisdiction to hear her claim and that the Equality Act 2010 and Employment Rights Act 1996 did not apply on the grounds of territorial jurisdiction.
Saima’s claim raises important questions about journalist safety, the treatment of women of colour in journalism, as well as the ability of foreign correspondents to ensure they are provided proper healthcare after being injured on assignment and can continue to work.
CNN is trying to avoid the prospect of a full hearing before the Employment Tribunal to allow an independent adjudication of Saima's claims by arguing that the UK courts should not even hear the case, kicking the matter into the legal long grass.
A two day hearing for CNN’s appeal will be listed in the near future.
A final hearing for the unfair dismissal and disability discrimination case, including Equal pay is listed for April 28th 2025.
Notes on Saima Mohsin
Saima presents SKY News Today with Saima Mohsin at weekends and continues with a daily pain management plan. She is a patron for the Palace for Life Foundation, Crystal Palace Football Club’s charity. Saima has learnt to live with an invisible disability and made a record-ratings programme for ITV to raise awareness about the many people in the UK living with invisible disabilities. Saima has spoken out publicly about her pain condition and fundraises for the disability charity Scope.
Notes on legal team:
Saima is represented by Barristers Paras Gorasia of Old Square Chambers and Jennifer Robinson & Finnian Clarke of Doughty Street Chambers.
Mr Gorasia and Ms J Robinson were counsel for Azeem Rafiq in his claim against Yorkshire County Cricket Club, which resulted in a significant settlement and apology from the Club to Mr Rafiq.
For media enquiries please contact 07944 979 174
The brothers threw the photographer to the ground, stole her camera, and broke her equipment.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the continued harassment of Zhang Zhan by Chinese authorities.
Kurdish journalist NurcanYalçın faces up to 10 years in prison on bogus terrorism financing charges.
Women Press Freedom condemns the police brutality towards journalists & activists during a human rights protest in Xochimilco, a grave infringement on press freedom and safety.
Women Press Freedom expresses solidarity with Sarunaz Ahmad, who has initiated a strike at Evin Prison to protest the denial of a medical examination.
Although Gandapur did not mention Farooqi by name, his disgraceful rhetoric incited a wave of online harassment against her.
WPF condemns Karim's detention and demands an end to the state’s persecution of journalists and activists.
Women Press Freedom stands with Urankayeva, who plans to appeal, in her assertion that this is censorship.
Yet another attempt to intimidate a journalist of the Kurdish press. WPF denounces and demands Turkish authorities stop using anti-terrorism laws to harass journalists.
Women Press Freedom condemns CNN’s efforts to block Saima Mohsin's case for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination.
Women Press Freedom urges authorities to refrain from targeting press covering public interest issues, allowing them to report freely.
Bloomberg’s decision to quietly scale back the PR campaign for Olivia Nuzzi’s Working Capital following a Twitter backlash over her article on President Biden's age is alarming.
WPF strongly condemns the cyberattacks targeting Karla Iberia Sánchez and other journalists on X.
WPF vehemently condemns the threats and harassment faced by Roy Barbosa, a Manila Today journalist targeted for both their non-binary gender identity and their work covering protests against the country’s revived terror law.
Mediamax journalist Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki, shot 4 times by police while covering anti-government protests in July, now faces death threats.
These baseless charges represent a direct attack on press freedom and undermine the professional dignity of journalists.
CNN Indonesia terminated 11 union members, just days after registering a union.
WPF strongly condemns the violent targeting of journalists by Israeli soldiers in Jenin. Shatha Hanaysha was among those injured by live rounds and shrapnel while reporting.
Zhanna Nemtsova was spied on by Pablo González for Russian intelligence. Arrested in Poland for espionage in 2022, González was recently freed in a prisoner swap and welcomed by Putin himself.
Man sentenced to 27 months in prison for harassing reporter Lauren Chooljian, her editor, and her parents.
Authorities label Galina Timchenko, founder of independent news site Meduza, as a “foreign agent,” accusing her of opposing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and spreading "inaccurate information."
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned for journalist Zhang Zhan’s safety, as she hasn’t been heard from in 2 days.
Threats against exiled journalist Mónica Velásquez and her family have escalated. Her daughters are being filmed with drones inside their rooms, and the family faces constant harassment and intimidation.
The conviction of José Miguel Narváez, former DAS deputy director, marks a crucial step toward justice for journalist Claudia Julieta Duque.
WPF is deeply appalled by the decision to award Umar Altaf Para - a controversial journalist accused of harassing multiple women journalists online with unsolicited messages - with the HRRF Awards by the IAM Council.
Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the silencing of a woman journalist during a live broadcast of a news conference in Kabul.
The Kremlin bans 92 US citizens from entering the country, including 24 journalists. Russian Foreign Ministry cites the "Russophobic course" of the Biden administration as the reason for these sanctions.
Women Press Freedom is deeply saddened by the tragic and suspicious death of Gazi TV journalist Sarah Rahanuma, whose body was found floating in a lake.
Court orders the blocking of 69 X accounts, including those of journalists Amberin Zaman, Deniz Tekin, Berçem Mordeniz, and Öznur Değer, despite a 2020 ruling banning “virtual patrolling” by police.
Attacking journalists is an attack on truth. Deliberately targeting the press in conflict is a war crime. WPF demands an immediate ceasefire and full accountability. The world cannot stay silent.