A Christian teacher dismissed for giving pro-life, pro-Israel answers to student-posed questions will face an employment tribunal in February in the United Kingdom.
“Anita Meston, 63, is taking legal action against Biddick Academy, a state school in Washington, Sunderland, which dismissed her after she said that she was pro-life in response to a question,” reported Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which is supporting her defense. “She is suing the school for discrimination.”
Meston, a teacher for 28 years, had been at Biddick Academy since 2024, and shortly before her dismissal her contract was renewed, ADF stated.
How it started
The case began in March 2025 during a lesson in which a student asked whether Meston supported abortion. She responded that she is pro-life. She also was asked whether she is pro-Israel, to which she said she is, ADF explained. Each time, Meston briefly answered and returned to the lesson.
The next day the head teacher told Meston a complaint had been made against her. She was told she could not express her views in class and would be terminated, ADF reported.
Signatures of support
A petition supporting Meston garnered 21,000 signatures in less than a week.
“All UK employees are protected from discrimination under the law,” ADF legal counsel Jeremiah Igunnubole, a London-based barrister, noted. “Nevertheless, it is clear that Anita was dismissed because others disagreed with her views, including her deeply-held Christian beliefs that are protected by the [UK] Equality Act. Even in the case of schools, the department of education’s own guidance does not prohibit staff from expressing their personal views.”
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