Clifford Chance has come under fire for its refusal to censure the remarks made by a trainee in a 20-minute YouTube video. In the video, the bi-lingual English and Arabic trainee denounces Muslims who have been colonized by the Western ideology, which he claims is inferior to Islam.
According to a report from the Global Legal Post, Aysh Chaudhry “repeatedly uses the word ‘kuffar’ which is a derogatory term for people who are not Muslim.” He explains that the recent events in Paris have moved him to respond and to urge fellow Muslims not to apologize, but rather to have the confidence and strength to resist the influence of corrupt Western values.
Clifford Chance deflected criticism by indicating the comments were ‘personal and not those of Clifford Chance’. Per the firm statement appearing in the Global Legal Post, “’The firm is committed to establishing an inclusive culture where people with diverse backgrounds and views work effectively together and feel confident to develop their potential. We ask our people to at all times consider how their personal conduct and actions may affect those around them, their professional reputation and that of the firm.’”
