A councillor accused of making Islamophobic comments is believes there may be an appeal as he claims the comments “were not about community groups”.

Conservative councillor Kamaljit Chana, who represents Pinner South, was found to make Islamophobic comments as part of an employment tribunal against Dyson Technologies LTD.

Cllr Chana, who was also a Dyson senior technical project manager, was said to have called Muslims “violent” in a meeting in 2017, bringing up 9/11 and terrorism in general, and saying “Pakastani men are grooming our girls”.

Engineer Zeinab Alipourbabaie, 39, from Wiltshire, resigned in 2018 after months of harassment and discrimination by the councillor.

The Bristol Employment Tribunal ruled in her favour after reviewing the evidence.

But Cllr Chana believes that he did not make the comments in 2017, and instead discussed “factual news events” which took place at the time.

In response to the tribunal, Cllr Chana says he is hoping that Dyson may consider an appeal.

In his version of events, he said: “As a British citizen, I expect everyone to follow the British values. This includes having mutual respect & tolerance of those with different faiths & beliefs.

“There were discussions about factual news events which took place at that time. I do not accept the behaviour of those who aim to destroy British values, via calculated horrendous events. Nor do I accept any support shown towards those who commit such acts.

“My comments were not about whole community groups. This would be entirely unjust.

“My comments were not said as quoted therefore the process of appeal is being considered.”

There is no evidence to suggest Dyson is considering an appeal.

Read more: Calls to remove Conservative councillor who said 'I don't like Muslims'

Cllr Chana was one of seven Dyson employees called at the tribunal.

The court found that Ms Alipourbabaie was also excluded from meetings and emails, and Cllr Chana advised against promoting her.

Dyson's Automative Function closed over a year ago and Dyson’s promotion process and internal HR processes were not found to be discriminatory by the court.

Dyson says that their internal disciplinary procedure upheld the discriminatory allegations made, except for the allegation of the anti-Muslim conversations.

A year later, the Islamophobia was brought up to HR and serious disciplinary sanction, short of dismissal, was issued to Kamaljit Chana at the time in relation to bullying.

The Harrow Conservative group said: “The first we heard of these allegations and the Tribunal decision was on Sunday morning from reading the Sunday Times

“We take these allegations extremely seriously, we are investigating them and following due process. We will not hesitate to take firm action accordingly. We await publication of the tribunal judgement and we will scrutinise the ruling.”

This follows calls from the leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Graham Henson, and various Muslim organisations, who called for Cllr Chana’s resignation.

Cllr Henson said that Islamophobia and discrimination has “no place in Harrow”.

Muslim organisations including Harrow Central Mosque, the Harrow Association of Somali Voluntary Organisations and the Kuwati Community Association, united to share their outrage in the report.

A united letter explained the organisations expect that the Conservatives “remove this individual from his post”.

A Dyson spokesperson said: “Dyson demands a workplace free of discrimination, intimidation and harassment; we do not tolerate any form of unacceptable behaviour and we treat any such allegations very seriously.

"These allegations were investigated fully, and disciplinary action was taken against Kamaljit Chana who was found to have acted inappropriately and no longer works for Dyson.

"We have since launched mandatory 'Respect at Dyson' training for all our people globally. Dyson notes that the tribunal found most claims were not well founded and were dismissed, especially in relation to promotion and HR processes which were not found to be discriminatory.”