The news channel Al Jazeera has successfully fought off a £1 million claim that it discriminated against a former employe because she was a Western, Christian woman and forced her out of her job.

The high profile case was brought by Jo Burgin, who was employed as Head of Planning at the international news channel's Doha headquarters between 2005 and 2007.

She alleged unfair dismissal and discrimination on the grounds of sex, race and religion or belief.

But an employment tribunal has dismissed her claims. Yesterday Anas Al Merstani, Head of Al Jazeera's legal department, said: "This is an important victory for Al Jazeera, and publicly clears its name of any discrimination against an employee.

"As a global organisation with offices in over 100 countries we welcome people from all walks of life and will strenuously contest claims that we do not."

He paid tribute to his lawyers from the London firm Denton Wilde Sapte and his barrister Ingrid Simler,QC, for helping achieve victory.

Ms Burgin, 49, worked at Al Jazeera International Ltd alongside her husband, Steve Clark, who was Director of News. Al Jazeera’s lawyers argued that this situation became untenable as staff felt Ms Burgin's management style was influenced by her relationship with Mr Clark. As a result she was offered a role in a different department. Ms Burgin declined to take this role and her contract with Al Jazeera was terminated in April 2007.

At the tribunal, Ms Burgin had said that she was told to leave because the company had a “no couples” policy, although, she alleged, it knew of her relationship when she joined.

Mr Clark told the tribunal hearing in September that Ibrahim Helal, deputy managing director, was sexist and anti-Western, with the “mangerial skills of Saddam Hussein”.

Ms Burgin, a Christian who worked for Al Jazeera from April 2005 to April 2007, claimed she was treated less favourably than four male colleagues of the same seniority and in the same department because of her gender.

She told the tribunal in London that the management of the Qatar-based news channel was “inconsistent, inefficient and malicious”.

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