A female counsellor has sued her former school after she was sacked for her views on traditional marriage including claiming wives should ‘submit to their husbands’, which the school branded ‘misogynistic’
Gozen Soydag, 37, from Enfield, has launched legal action against St Anne’s Catholic High School for Girls for wrongful dismissal, harassment, discrimination and breaches of her human rights on the grounds of her Christian beliefs.
She claims her social media accounts and Christian beliefs were censored by the school before she was then sacked on her birthday and ordered to leave the school premises without pay.
She has amassed more than 30,000 followers on various Instagram accounts.
One account @wifeinthewaiting is described as ‘a God centred ministry that encourages, empowers and equips women, who desire to be married, to position in purpose, dedicated specifically to celebrating the institution of marriage and the traditional nuclear family.’
In February 2023, Miss Soydag was summoned to a meeting with a senior member of staff, where she was questioned about her online activity, the Telegraph reports.
One video Miss Soydag had shared on Instagram, which she was told was of particular concern, involved a woman wearing Muslim attire talking about her happiness of living in submission to her husband.
Miss Soydag was told that the video was concerning because if the same statements were made by a man, they would be deemed ‘misogynistic.’
Gozen Soydag had amassed over 30,000 followers on Instagram on various accounts
She claims she shared the video, not because she agreed with the entirety of what she posted, but to generate debate.
The meeting concluded with Miss Soydag being told for the first time that all employees’ social media accounts had to be kept private and must not be accessible to the public.
A fortnight later she was summoned to another meeting where she was told that complaints had been made about other content on her social media pages. One parent reportedly strongly disagreed with the Christian beliefs expressed.
She was given 24 hours to ensure her account was not visible on Google.
Miss Soydag tried to explain that due to Google’s functionality this would take two weeks but the next day she was told that her accounts were ‘global’, that it was ‘too little too late’, and the beliefs she expressed were openly criticised.
She was told in an email that ‘due to much of your extensive online profile being incompatible with the schools mission statement and ethos, and the fact that despite being asked to remove such incompatible information your profile appears to a large extent to remain unchanged’.
Told to pack up her belongings and leave the premises, Miss Soydag left in tears without being able to say goodbye to colleagues and students. All of this happened on her birthday.
Miss Soydag is seeking damages for breach of contract and wrongful dismissal and a declaration under the Equality Act 2010.
Miss Soydag says she is ‘for God’s blueprint for the family and believe children do best in a nuclear family’
She claims her social media accounts and Christian beliefs were censored by the school
Miss Soydag, who is also a relationship coach and therapist, said: ‘I still do not know what I did wrong to warrant being dismissed.
‘I wanted to work in the education sector and make an impact for young people. This was a Catholic school, and they knew I was a passionate woman of faith. The school’s building is in the shape of the Cross.
‘Every classroom had a Cross and Bible verses on the walls. This was a place where I believed they accepted Jesus.
‘My social media channels were about sharing hope through the Word of God, especially for women. No one who desires marriage wants a singles ministry! But that is what God gave me.
‘I tried to boost the confidence of the girls I worked with at St Anne’s, but I never referred them to my social media accounts. @wifeinthewaiting is not for 14-year-olds, but for women in their 30’s and 40’s who desire marriage and want to do it God’s way. It is about living a life of purpose whatever season you are in.
‘I stand for the nuclear marriage and God’s blueprint for marriage. I’m not against anyone, I am for God’s blueprint for the family and believe children do best in a nuclear family.
‘I want to speak up now because traditional Christian marriage in this country is being broken, trampled on, and even marginalised, and what has happened to me really highlights that.
‘I was persecuted. If this had been anyone else with a belief as part of the “inclusive” culture, I would not be sitting here, I would have been celebrated and promoted.
‘When you know your future is secure in God, you don’t need to worry. It is important to speak up for truth. I am not going to let go of what God has given me and am determined to fight for justice.’
She was sacked on her birthday following a meeting with senior staff about her social media accounts
Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said: ‘This is another example of schools, which on the surface have a strong Christian ethos, but appear to capitulate to secular orthodoxy when placed under pressure when told the Christian message on marriage offends.
‘Gozen unashamedly loves Jesus and is a brilliant advocate for women and God’s great and beautiful plan for marriage.
‘Gozen was doing a fantastic job in a tough area of London, supporting young women in a Catholic school and had had nothing but praise, until someone complained about the beliefs she expressed in her own time.
‘This is another example of schools, which on the surface have a strong Christian ethos, panicking and capitulating to secular orthodoxy and the ‘offence’ of Christian marriage.
‘We rob society of the true picture of marriage when we censor, suppress and dismiss what that true picture is.
‘Gozen must be exonerated by the school otherwise what has happened sends a message that Christian beliefs on marriage are now barred from our schools. We will stand by her side as she pursues justice.’