A Muslim civil servant has been allowed to return to work after comments posted on his blog about killing British soldiers in Iraq led to a six-month suspension.
The news comes just a week after a Christian was sacked by Wandsworth Council for suggesting a terminally ill woman may find comfort in God.
IT worker Azad Ali quoted an interview on his blog with an Islamic militant who said: “If I saw an American or British man wearing a soldier’s uniform inside Iraq I would kill him because that is my obligation.
“If I found the same soldier in Jordan I wouldn’t touch him. In Iraq he is a fighter and an occupier, here he is not.”
Mr Ali, who is also president of the Civil Service Islamic Society, faced an investigation amid concerns that he may have broken civil service rules on political involvement.
The investigation was ordered by Britain’s most senior civil servant Sir Gus O’Donnell, who is also patron of the Civil Service Islamic Society. It has now finished.
A Treasury spokesman said: “Azad Ali is back at work. The Treasury has dealt with the matter in accordance with our disciplinary procedures. We will not comment on individual cases.”
Mr Ali’s reinstatement follows recent news of two Christians given the sack after expressing their beliefs at work.
Mr Anand Rao, a Christian nurse with 40 years experience was sacked earlier this year because he said, during a training course, that going to church could ease the anxiety of a stressed patient.
Mr Rao made the comment not to a real patient, but during a role-playing training event. His NHS employers dismissed him after the course organisers passed on a report about his behaviour.
Duke Amachree, a homelessness prevention officer, was sacked earlier this month by Wandsworth Council after he suggested that a terminally ill woman look to God for help.
Mr Amachree had initially been suspended over the incident, and told by Council officials that he could not say ‘God bless’ to clients.