'Too old to be a terrorist' jibe settlement

Omar Fikri, from Dartford, agreed to accept the undisclosed sum, after telling an employment tribunal how he was presented with the card in March 2006 by fellow workers at international freight company Davies Turner in Dartford.

Mr Fikri, who was sacked in April, claimed he was discriminated against on the grounds of race and religious beliefs He told the hearing in Ashford he did not think the card was funny at all.

He said: "I don't mind a sense of humour and some jokes about terrorism, but there are limits."

Mr Fikri said his wife was so offended with the card she made him throw it away.

Colleague Sam Low told the hearing the message in the card was meant in jest.

Mr Low said: "It was because he was 40, but it was a joke.

"It was a group card."

The tribunal was also told Mr Low shouted at Mr Fikri for not answering a phone while he was praying at work on October 26 last year.

Mr Fikri said: "I was just praying, everyone knew that was normal. They were used to seeing me do it.

"He racially abused me for praying and not answering the call, saying my praying was disgusting."

Mr Low admitted shouting at Mr Fikri because he thought he was ignoring him.

He said: "I was shouting at him because he ignored me, that's what made me angry, not the fact he was praying."

Mr Fikri began working for Davies Turner in August 2000 as an IT software developer.

He told the tribunal special arrangements were put in place for him to pray at work twice a day.

The 42-year-old was dismissed from his post on April 21 after an internal investigation.

He said: "Had I been white and Christian I would not have been dismissed."

The tribunal was told Mr Fikri had earlier refused a £20,000 termination package, claiming he was dismissed because he started proceedings against the firm and complained too much.

The tribunal was brought to a close on its opening day after Mr Fikri's agreed to a settlement.