Muslim soldier sues MoD for discrimination

A Muslim soldier is suing the Ministry of Defence over claims he suffered racial discrimination while serving with an SAS unit in Afghanistan.

The unnamed British-born soldier has a complaint lodged at an employment tribunal that says he was subject to physical abuse and bullying by peers in his unit in mid-2007, persecution that continued when he returned to Britain.

The tribunal for the soldier, who is understood to be of Pakistani origin, starts today and is expected to take place privately to protect information of national security. Almost all the witnesses will be former or active members of the Special Forces.