Quadriplegic Muslim Sues MI5 for Spy Job Rejection...

Sajad Suleman, 35, admitted he could not move his arms or legs when he applied to be a Mobile Surveillance Officer but still claimed he should have been the "preferred candidate" out of the 1,092 who applied.

He said the role – "all about observing people or places either on foot or by vehicle" – could have been adapted and he could have travelled and tracked targets by train, coach or taxi.
The service should have also paid for his health care, he said.
British-born Suleman believes MI5 and its recruiting agency TMP (UK) demonstrated "reckless discrimination" in rejecting his application.
His discrimination claim has already been thrown out by a London employment tribunal, but he is appealing.

The married father-of-three, from Wembley, claims he represented himself because lawyers do not want to take on MI5. He is appealing to Harrods owner Mohammed Al-Fayed for help because he blamed spies for the death of Princess Diana.
Suleman applied for the post in December 2007. He told a Central London Employment Tribunal that he had the rare Guillain-Barré syndrome, which meant he had been paralysed.
He said: "I was so ill that I couldn't move my hands, fingers, arms, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees feet and toes."

The job description states applicants should be able to pass a "physically and mentally demanding" course.
Suleman said: "I knew the mobile surveillance officer job was active. They sent you out, sometimes to different countries to spy on someone. You are out on the front line, but it was right up my street.

"They have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabilities. They should have invited me for an interview, there is no doubt about that, and I should have got the job.
"I should have been the preferred candidate because they said they encouraged applications from people from ethnic minorities and with disabilities."

Suleman, a Muslim, said he wanted to protect Britain and to take a stand against extremists.
He has been unemployed since 2005 after he contracted Guillain-Barré syndrome working as a union rep at Metro line bus company.
According to documents lodged by MI5 and TMP, they rejected Suleman's application immediately because they wanted someone who drove at least 5,000 miles a year. He only drove half the distance.

Suleman claims this demonstrates disability discrimination, saying: "It is unreasonable to expect a disabled person to drive 5,000 miles a year.
"They should have interviewed me to discuss how to adapt the job to cope with my disability, not rejected me because I can't do certain things.
"I could go on a train or a coach or in a taxi, use public transport instead of a car.
"I know the role is about observing people and places on foot or by vehicle. I can't walk for miles but if you are asking me to observe or monitor someone in a city centre I could do that. I could relax a bit.

"Why should I lose an opportunity not just for me but for the security of Great Britain?
"With all I have been through, I have put a figure of £363,000 on the claim but I feel very strongly it should be more than that. MI5 and the agency have recklessly discriminated against me."

Suleman is also claiming trade union membership and race discrimination, saying a non-activist or non-Asian would not have received the same treatment.
He says rejection knocked his confidence, so he has not applied for other jobs, although his condition has improved. He walks at a slow shuffle with a walking stick but struggles to use stairs.

MI5 and TMP dismissed his allegations, saying Suleman did not fulfil the driving requirements and was immediately rejected.
They said it had nothing to do with his disability, race or trade union affiliation and added the claim was "misconceived".

The average cost of defending a claim has been estimated at £9,000.
Suleman, who receives housing, incapacity and child benefits, represented himself in five Case Management Discussions. He said the case was thrown out after medical evidence was not produced and has written demanding a review.