Muslim man wins case over forced name change at workplace in France
Court ruled in favor of Mohamed Amghar, a French-Moroccan man compelled to use a different name
PARIS (MNTV) – In a landmark ruling that underscores the persistent challenges of workplace discrimination in France, Mohamed Amghar, a French-Moroccan sales engineer, has successfully sued his former employer, Intergraph France, for compelling him to adopt a different first name during his two-decade tenure.
Amghar, now 63, was hired in 1997 by Intergraph France, a software company later acquired by Swedish tech conglomerate Hexagon AB.
From the outset, he was instructed to abandon his given name, Mohamed, in favour of “Antoine”—a name deemed more palatable to clients.
This directive, delivered during his final job interview, left him feeling both ashamed and angry.
Despite his discomfort, Amghar acquiesced, citing financial pressures and the need to support his family.
Throughout his 20-year career at Intergraph, Amghar achieved significant professional success, earning numerous awards and accolades.
However, all recognition bore the name “Antoine,” effectively erasing his true identity in the workplace.
Official documents, including business cards, email addresses, and internal communications, reflected this imposed name, while only his pay slips occasionally mentioned “Mohamed-Antoine.”
Upon leaving the company in 2017, Amghar initiated legal proceedings, alleging discrimination, moral harassment, and invasion of privacy.
Although his initial complaint was dismissed in 2022, a subsequent appeal in early 2025 resulted in a favourable verdict.
The court acknowledged that the name change was not voluntary and that the employer failed to provide a valid justification for the imposition.
Intergraph France was ordered to pay approximately €30,000 in damages.
Amghar expressed mixed feelings about the outcome, stating that the compensation was insufficient given the emotional toll of suppressing his identity for two decades.
He emphasized that his legal battle was not motivated by financial gain but by a desire for dignity and recognition.
This case has drawn attention to broader issues of racial and religious discrimination in the French workplace.
Muslim candidates applying for a job in France are 2.5 times less likely to be called back for that job based on a name or address on their resume which implies they are Muslim, according to a recent Stanford, La Sorbonne, and UC San Diego study
The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) supported Amghar’s case, highlighting it as emblematic of the challenges faced by individuals from minority backgrounds.
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