Christian behind homophobic Facebook comments wins in UK Court of Appeal Felix Ngole says he was expressing a traditional Christian view and Sheffield University should not have kicked him off the course

A devout Christian thrown off a University course for perceived homophobic comments he made on Facebook has won the latest round of his legal fight.

Felix Ngole says he was expressing a traditional Christian view and that his human right to free speech was impinged.

He says Sheffield University bosses unfairly stopped him completing a postgraduate degree.

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Thrown out of uni

He called the Court of Appeal ruling “great news” for anyone who cares about free speech.

The University said it was looking at the judges’ decision but added that it only related to one aspect of the case.

Mr Ngole, 40, who works as a carer, said his human right to free speech was breached when he was thrown off the course.

University bosses disagreed. They said he had been studying for a professional qualification and his fitness to practise had to be considered.

“This is great news, not only for me and my family, but for everyone who cares about freedom of speech, especially for those working in or studying for caring professions,” said Mr Ngole.

“As Christians we are called to serve others and to care for everyone, yet publicly and privately we must also be free to express our beliefs and what the Bible says without fear of losing our livelihoods.”

Facebook debate

A Sheffield University spokeswoman said: “The University of Sheffield supports the rights of students to hold and debate a wide range of views and beliefs.

“However, for students studying on courses that lead to professional registration, we have a responsibility to look at how any concerns raised could impact a student’s fitness to practise.

“The court dismissed the majority of the appeal submitted by the applicant and has only upheld one aspect to do with early procedural processes.”

Mr Ngole posted comments in 2015 when taking part in a debate on a Facebook page about Kim Davis, a state official in the US state of Kentucky, who refused to register same-sex marriages, judges heard

He said Mrs Davis’s position was based on the “Biblical view of same-sex marriage as a sin”, said he was making a “genuine contribution” to an important public debate, and he was “entitled to express his religious views”.

Appeal judges said the university’s disciplinary proceedings were flawed.

They said university bosses adopted an untenable position – thinking that any expression of disapproval of same-sex relations, however “mildly expressed”, on a public social media platform was a breach of profession guidelines.

Judges said a university fitness to practise committee should stage another hearing and reconsider Mr Ngole’s case.

In 2017, a judge ruled against Mr Ngole after a High Court trial in London in 2017. Three Court of Appeal judges on Wednesday overturned that decision.

Additional reporting by Press Association.