(TOLEDO, OHIO, 10/10/2019) The Columbus chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio recently filed a complaint with the Toledo Regional Office of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC) on behalf of a Toledo Muslim woman who was denied employment because of her hijab.
The Muslim woman applied for a server position at a Toledo restaurant. She was asked to come in for an interview. Later, she was informed that the restaurant owner would not hire her as a server because she wore the hijab. However, he offered her a position in the back of the restaurant as a cook or dishwasher, so she would be out of customers’ sight.
Forced to choose between removing her hijab or taking a position where she would have to hide her hijab from patrons, she contacted CAIR-Columbus to seek help enforcing her rights.
“Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 strictly prohibits an employer from segregating their employees from customer-contact positions based on the employee’s religious garb,” said Romin Iqbal, Legal Director of CAIR-Columbus. “The law is clear; no person should be forced to hide their religion at work. Employees have a right to religious accommodation of their beliefs and practices at work under both federal and state laws in Ohio.”
For more information on rights of Muslim employees at work, please review CAIR-Columbus’ employee guide. If you believe you were denied employment because of your religion or if you were denied a religious accommodation at work, please submit an incident report here.
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 CAIR-Ohio Affiliate has three chapters – Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati.