Allegations of sexual harassment have prompted the London police services board to ask for an investigation into one of its own members.
Najwa Zebian, a high-profile London poet with nearly 680,000 followers on Instagram, shared her side of the story involving the board’s vice-chair, Michael Deeb, in a Facebook post earlier this week.
Speaking with 980 CFPL’s the Andrew Lawton Show Thursday afternoon, Zebian discussed what she believes was an imbalance of power, age, and responsibility.
Zebian was 21-years-old when she met Deeb for the first time at teacher’s college; he used to be the vice principal at Saunders Secondary School, and is now the principal at H.B. Beal Secondary School. They’re both members of London’s Muslim community, and he was twice her age when she was starting to establish herself in the community as a new teacher.
“There was a period of about a year and a half, after I completed my student teaching, that he contacted me, either to teach at a private school which he was sitting on the board of, or to tutor his children. At the time, I thought ‘oh, he wants me to teach his kids.'”
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Zebian agreed to take on the job after the fourth time he asked her to tutor, at which point she says the crossing of boundaries began.
“I first feared his reaction at me rejecting his inappropriate comments,” Zebian wrote on Facebook.
“When I developed an attachment to him, I feared what that meant. When I told him that I didn’t think it would work out, I feared disappointing him or making him feel like I gave up on him. And when I struggled with that, I feared what he would say about me within our professional and community circles.”
A statement from Deeb’s lawyer, Faisal Joseph, says an independent investigation already completed by the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) discredits Zebian’s allegations. The investigation itself has not been made public.
“Ms. Zebian has not been forthright and has mislead the public,” the statement reads.
“In fact, when my client refused her amorous gestures and rejected a relationship, she lashed out, forcing him to block all her calls and texts. That wasn’t enough for her when she decided to try to see him at work unannounced, requiring him to have witnesses present.”
Zebian’s allegations, which have not been proven in court, go on to say that Deeb manipulated her into giving him money.
“He opened up to me about the fact he needed money for his mortage, and he made it seem very serious, that it had to do with the well-being of him and his children, and I felt very guilty and I said ‘I’ll help you,’ and I gave him the amount he asked for,” Zebian told 980 CFPL.
At the time, Zebian said Deeb was “very aware” she was struggling with her decision to reject a relationship with him.
“That should have never happened, especially knowing that I was struggling emotionally. I see that precisily as taking advantage of the emotional dependency that he himself caused from the beginning.”
The statement from Deeb’s lawyer says Deeb was satisifed with a decision of the independent fact finder hired by the TVDSB, and that Zebian “has now crossed a legal line in the sand by publicly naming my client after two years, and after a complete investigation whereby my client returned to work as a principal.”
Lynne Griffith-Jones, the TVDSB’s human resources superintendent, issued her own statement regarding the allegations.
“All allegations are immediately investigated and TVDSB has zero tolerance for retaliation or any unprofessional behaviour toward individuals bringing forward a concern. In some cases, investigations are conducted by third-party professionals to ensure impartiality.
“While TVDSB encourages transparency in all practices, the process of investigating harassment is conducted in a confidential manner. The results of an investigation are shared with parties involved in a complaint, however TVDSB does not comment publicly on personnel matters.”
During an unexpected police services board meeting called Thursday morning, members spent more than two hours behind closed doors in a conversation that Deeb voluntarily excused himself from.
The board passed a motion to request that the Ontario Civilian Police Commission (OCPC) “investigate, inquire into and report on the conduct or the performance of duties of a member of the London Police Services Board, namely Mr. Michael Deeb, respecting the information published by Ms. Najwa Zebian brought to the Board’s attention.”
Board chair Jeanette Eberhard said Deeb will remain on the London police services board, but if the OCPC decides to launch an investigation, he’ll be suspended from his police board duties.
The full statement from Faisal Joseph, the lawyer representing Michael Deeb:
This matter between my client and Ms. Zebian has already been adjudicated upon by an independent proceeding and an independent investigator and lawyer hired by the Thames Valley District School Board.
Ms. Zebian has not been forthright and has mislead the public. My client was satisfied with the decision of the independent fact finder, who, unlike members of the press (and) her followers on Facebook, did not have access to all the facts, including her actions, which, I assure you, are embarrassing and will not be repeated here.
My client and Ms. Zebian had all of their evidence heard, and (there) were findings against Ms. Zebian which negatively affected her credibility. I can categorical (sic) state that according to her own evidence, my client had no physical intimacy with her at any time! No kissing, inappropriate touching or sexual relationship of any kind.
In fact, when my client refused her amorous gestures and rejected a relationship, she lashed out, forcing him to block all her calls and texts. That wasn’t enough for her when she decided to try to see him at work unannounced, requiring him to have witnesses present.
She has even gone to the extreme of having unwanted contact with the mother of his daughter to attempt to get the mother to collude with her to hurt his reputation. The mother refused and contacted my client to inform what had happened, and then contacted the authorities.
None of this information, and more, has been disclosed to your listeners or her followers and supporters. There is always two sides to a story and we have more information that we will save for a trial in a courtroom, not the media, if she continues to defame or slander my client.
In her own words on Goalcast.com, under her name and the heading ‘He abused me,’ she gives a speech about how much she loved my client and could not imagine a life without him by her side, then says after he ‘rejected’ her, she asked herself, ‘What is wrong with me? Why doesn’t he like me(?)’ and remembered what it felt like to be bullied when she was a young teenager.
She has now crossed a legal line in the sand by publicly naming my client after two years, and after a complete investigation whereby my client returned to work as a principal.
The full statement from Lynne Griffith-Jones, the human resources superintendent from the TVDSB:
TVDSB does not tolerate harassment of its employees. TVDSB believes strongly in providing safe and inclusive working conditions and commends staff members for having the courage to bring forward concerns about workplace harassment.
All allegations are immediately investigated and TVDSB has zero tolerance for retaliation or any unprofessional behavior toward individuals bringing forward a concern. In some cases, investigations are conducted by third-party professionals to ensure impartiality.
While TVDSB encourages transparency in all practices, the process of investigating harassment is conducted in a confidential manner. The results of an investigation are shared with parties involved in a complaint, however TVDSB does not comment publicly on personnel matters.
If the investigation finds evidence of harassment, TVDSB takes appropriate punitive action, which may include dismissal.
TVDSB promotes safe and inclusive work environments in its schools and offices and does not tolerate harassment of any kind toward staff, students or members of the community.
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