Christian student was lawfully expelled from university for 'anti-gay' comments, UK court rules

A High Court judge in the U.K. has ruled that a Christian student who was accused of making derogatory comments about homosexuals on social media was lawfully expelled from his social work course at the University of Sheffield.

Felix Ngole, of Barnsley, South Yorkshire, was suspended from Sheffield after he shared a Facebook post in September 2015 expressing support for Kentucky county clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

He launched a legal battle following his suspension from the university, arguing that his rights to freedom of speech and thought, enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, had been breached after school officials prevented him from completing a postgraduate degree.

Lawyers representing the university argued that Ngole had shown "no insight" and said that the decision to remove him from the course was fair and proportionate.

They noted that Ngole, who was a second-year masters student at Sheffield before his expulsion, had been studying for a professional qualification and said university officials had to consider his "fitness to practice."

Ngole said that he had been taking part in a public debate and insisted that he was "entitled to express his religious views."

Deputy High Court Judge Rowena Collins-Rice was informed that the Ngole had shared the Facebook post two years ago when he was in his late 30s.

The student said that he had argued that Davis' position was based on the "Biblical view of same-sex marriage as a sin."

According to The Independent, Ngole also commented on the link quoting a Bible verse from Leviticus, calling homosexuality an "abomination."

On Friday, Collins-Rice ruled against Ngole saying, the university had acted within the law when it expelled the Christian student.

"Public religious speech has to be looked at in a regulated context from the perspective of a public readership Social workers have considerable power over the lives of vulnerable service users and trust is a precious professional commodity," the judge stated, according to Evening Standard.

"Universities also have a wide range of interests in and responsibilities for their students - academic social and pastoral. Where, as Sheffield does, they aspire to be welcoming environments for students from a diverse range of backgrounds, they must expect to be inclusive and supportive of that diversity," she continued.

Andrea Williams, chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, which supported Ngole in the case, said that the ruling was wrong and would have a "chilling" effect on other Christian students in the U.K. Ngole expressed disappointment with the decision and said that he intends to file an appeal.