Saima Mohsin, a former British-Pakistani reporter for CNN, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S.-based broadcaster alleging racial discrimination, disability discrimination, and unfair dismissal. This follows Mohsin’s severe injury while covering the Israel-Palestine conflict in Jerusalem in 2014, which left her disabled.
While reporting from Jerusalem, Mohsin sustained a serious injury, severely damaging her foot’s tissue and leaving her unable to sit, stand, walk, or work full-time. Mohsin’s cameraman inadvertently ran over her foot with a car, causing this life-changing incident.
Following her injury, Mohsin requested that CNN adjust her responsibilities to a less physically demanding role and support her rehabilitation. However, CNN reportedly rejected her proposal. When Mohsin asked for a shift to a presenting role, she claimed she was told she didn’t possess the look the network sought.
CNN’s Dismissal of Mohsin
Three years after the incident, CNN terminated Mohsin’s employment. In response, she has decided to file an employment tribunal claim, set for hearing this Monday, as she claims the international media organization failed to support her after her debilitating injury.
Mohsin has alleged that she experienced racial and disability discrimination and a gender pay gap during her tenure at CNN. She further claimed that the network favoured white American correspondents over her for on-air time, even when she was ready to go live on the scene.
CNN argues that Mohsin cannot file her claim in a London court under her contract.
The journalist has since been working on a program about the struggles of living with invisible disabilities for ITV and presents programs for UK-based Sky News freelance. Mohsin asserts that her lawsuit aims to draw attention to the discrimination and pay gap issues she encountered and call for changes better to protect women journalists, particularly those of colour.
