British army admits soldier was victim of ‘anti-Islamic bias’

Ebrima Bayo at home in West Yorkshire: ‘My understanding was they were trying to break my willpower.’ Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian

The British army has admitted that a Muslim soldier was a victim of “anti-Islamic bias”, after settling a landmark religious discrimination case brought after fellow soldiers refused to let the claimant properly observe Ramadan while deployed in Cyprus.

Ebrima Bayo, 39, from Huddersfield, said he was denied hot food given to fellow soldiers when he broke his fast, and forced to sign a waiver committing him to spend extra time in the gym, claiming it was necessary to ensure he was fit.