A lecturer at the Oxford Centre for Jewish and Hebrew Studies has told an employment tribunal that she was discriminated against after she converted from Judaism to Christianity.

Israeli Dr Tali Argov, who was a full-time lector in modern Hebrew, said at the hearing in Reading last week that she was ostracised by colleagues and then made redundant after she converted to Anglicanism in January 2008.

Dr David Ariel, president of the centre, said Dr Argov was only teaching one of the three courses she was contracted to teach and that she had refused a new contract based on the actual number of courses. He said she had been made redundant on financial grounds.

He said: "The Oxford Centre, which is committed to a policy of respect for the religious affiliations, beliefs and choices of all its employees, instructional staff and students, rejects Dr Argov's claim of unfair dismissal and discrimination."

A verdict is due by the end of August.