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Allen West Smears Islam, Abercrombie & Fitch Sued for Firing Muslim Woman with Headscarf
Al-Jazeerah, CCUN, June 27, 2011
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- MEDIA
ADVISORY – CAIR: Calif.
Muslim to Sue Abercrombie & Fitch Over Hijab Firing
(SAN
FRANCISCO, CA, June 26)
– On Monday, June 27, the San Francisco Bay Area office of the
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA)
and the
Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center
(LAS-ELC) will
hold a news conference in San Francisco to announce a lawsuit
against
Abercrombie & Fitch
for firing a Muslim employee who refused to remove her religious
head scarf, or hijab. WHAT:
News Conference Announcing Lawsuit Against Abercrombie & Fitch
for Religious Discrimination The plaintiff worked for Hollister Co., a
brand of Abercrombie & Fitch, for several months in 2009-2010
while wearing hijab. In February 2010, she was terminated from
her position as a stockroom employee after refusing to remove
her scarf. At the time, she was told that her head scarf, though
worn based on a religious mandate, was not in compliance with
the company's "look policy." The suit is being filed in conjunction with
a lawsuit filed against Abercrombie & Fitch by the San Francisco
District Office of the U.S Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission.
CAIR is
America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy
organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of
Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower
American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and
mutual understanding. The Legal Aid Society of San Francisco-Employment Law Center was founded in 1916 and is committed to protecting the rights and economic self-sufficiency of low-income and disadvantaged workers and their families. The LAS-ELC provides free legal services, educational materials, technical assistance to other groups, and direct legal representation addressing racial equality; gender equity; immigration and national origin, and disability rights.
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CAIR: Air France Dulles Worker Sent Home Over Hijab Muslim civil rights group seeks redress for workplace discrimination
(WASHINGTON, D.C., 6/22/11) --
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on Air France to apologize to a Muslim worker at Washington Dulles International Airport who was allegedly sent home because she refused to remove her Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
[MEDIA NOTE: On Thursday, June 23, CAIR and the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for Race and Gender will hold a news conference on Capitol Hill to release “Same Hate, New Target,” the first-of-its-kind report outlining the disturbing growth of Islamophobia in the United States during 2009-2010.]
The Muslim employee reported to CAIR that when she went to work as an Air France Passenger Service Agent at the airport earlier this month she was told she could not wear her scarf because of an alleged Air France dress code. The worker refused to violate her religious beliefs and practices by removing her hijab and was promptly sent home.
In a letter to Patrick Roux, vice president and general manager for Air France, U.S. Operations, CAIR Staff Attorney Gadeir Abbas wrote in part:
“It is clear that a discriminatory dress code implemented in France would not supersede American laws protecting the religious rights of employees. Air France must follow American law and grant reasonable religious accommodations for its employees.”
Abbas said CAIR is seeking a formal apology from Air France, clarification of the airline’s policy on religious accommodation for employees, workplace sensitivity and diversity training for Air France staff at Washington Dulles International Airport, and compensation for the financial loss and emotional distress suffered by the worker.
He said this case is symptomatic of the overall rise in anti-Muslim sentiment in American society.
Video: U.S. Muslims Challenging Anti-Sharia Bills (CAIR) Report: Decade After 9/11, Anti-Muslim Hatred on the Rise (Southern Poverty Law Center) The Anti-Muslim Inner Circle (Southern Poverty Law Center) CAIR-CAN: Teen Told She Can't Referee While Wearing Hijab
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits employers from discriminating against individuals because of their religion in hiring, firing and other terms of employment. The act also requires employers to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of the employee, unless doing so would create an "undue hardship" for the employer.
CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to promote better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.
SEE: An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook Subscribe to CAIR's E-Mail List Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: [email protected]; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-341-4171, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: [email protected]
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