Justice Department Files Religious Discrimination Lawsuit Against Essex County, New Jersey
County Refused to Accommodate Muslim Employee's Religious Headcovering

Department of Justice
June 8, 2009

http://www.islamist-watch.org/1795/justice-department-files-religious-discrimination

Excerpt:

The Department filed a lawsuit today against Essex County, N.J., alleging that it discriminated against a Muslim corrections officer on the basis of her religion in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The suit alleges that the county refused to permit Yvette Beshier to wear a religiously mandated headscarf while working as a corrections officer.

Title VII prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin and religion. Its religious discrimination provisions require employers to make a reasonable accommodation of employees' religious observances and practices. The Justice Department enforces Title VII's prohibitions against employment discrimination with respect to state and local governments.

According to the complaint, the Essex County Department of Corrections (DOC), first suspended Beshier and then terminated her on the ground that her wearing of a khimar (a head scarf) violated its uniform policy for corrections officers. The complaint alleges that Beshier had requested a religious accommodation that would permit her to wear her khimar, but the DOC denied her request.

Read the complete original version of this item...

Related Topics:  Government, Head Coverings / Dress, Legal receive the latest by email: subscribe to the free islamist watch mailing list