Fri, Jun 24, 2011
CAIR: Airline Worker At Dulles Airport Reportedly Sent Home
Over Head Scarf
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.
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.
In its news release, CAIR cites title VII of the Civil Rights
Act of 1964, which "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."
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