This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7601551.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Cash award after 'Bin Laden' joke Cash award after 'Bin Laden' joke
(about 8 hours later)
A lawyer who was suspended by the Crown Prosecution Service after saying she was treated like a friend of Osama Bin Laden has been awarded £600,000.A lawyer who was suspended by the Crown Prosecution Service after saying she was treated like a friend of Osama Bin Laden has been awarded £600,000.
Halima Aziz was working at Bradford Crown Court in 2001 when she was accused of blaming Jews for 9/11.Halima Aziz was working at Bradford Crown Court in 2001 when she was accused of blaming Jews for 9/11.
Ms Aziz denied that comment, but said she had joked she was being treated like a friend of the al-Qaeda leader.Ms Aziz denied that comment, but said she had joked she was being treated like a friend of the al-Qaeda leader.
The CPS said it accepted the employment tribunal's decision to make the award on grounds of racial discrimination.The CPS said it accepted the employment tribunal's decision to make the award on grounds of racial discrimination.
The case started just a month after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, 2001.The case started just a month after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington on 11 September, 2001.
Ms Aziz was suspended while a complaint from the court was investigated, and was cleared of all allegations in 2002.Ms Aziz was suspended while a complaint from the court was investigated, and was cleared of all allegations in 2002.
'Astonishing' response'Astonishing' response
The tribunal said a previous investigation by the CPS had been a whitewash.The tribunal said a previous investigation by the CPS had been a whitewash.
Its judgement said: "This would be a completely unacceptable response on the part of any employer, but for a public body like the Crown Prosecution Service it can only be regarded as astonishing."Its judgement said: "This would be a completely unacceptable response on the part of any employer, but for a public body like the Crown Prosecution Service it can only be regarded as astonishing."
The tribunal also ordered Ms Aziz to be reinstated to her job and given a full apology.The tribunal also ordered Ms Aziz to be reinstated to her job and given a full apology.
After the hearing, the CPS said: "The CPS accepts the recommendations made by the employment tribunal and will be implementing them as a matter of priority. We offer a full apology to Halima Aziz."After the hearing, the CPS said: "The CPS accepts the recommendations made by the employment tribunal and will be implementing them as a matter of priority. We offer a full apology to Halima Aziz."
The service added that it took equality and diversity very seriously.The service added that it took equality and diversity very seriously.
Ms Aziz said: she was "100% certain this would not have happened unless I had been a Muslim and Asian." Ms Aziz said she was "100% certain this would not have happened unless I had been a Muslim and Asian."
She said she was hoping to use the payout to build an orphanage in Pakistan.She said she was hoping to use the payout to build an orphanage in Pakistan.