CAIR: Air France Dulles Worker Sent Home Over Hijab

Muslim civil rights group seeks redress for workplace discrimination

WASHINGTON, June 22, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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. SEE: http://tinyurl.com/samehatenewtarget ]

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)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znk79bby1ho

Report: Decade After 9/11, Anti-Muslim Hatred on the Rise (Southern Poverty Law Center)
http://tinyurl.com/3qsv2v8

The Anti-Muslim Inner Circle (Southern Poverty Law Center)
http://tinyurl.com/6xl4d4h

CAIR-CAN: Teen Told She Can't Referee While Wearing Hijab
http://tinyurl.com/3ex3y48

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
http://www.cair.com/Portals/0/pdf/employment_guide.pdf

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.

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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]

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations