CAIR: Oklahoma Muslim Denied Job Because of Islamic Scarf

Abercrombie Kids manager allegedly said scarf 'does not fit' company image

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., July 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Oklahoma chapter
of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) announced today that it
has filed an EEOC complaint on behalf of a Muslim woman who was allegedly
denied employment at an Abercrombie Kids store in that state because of the
applicant's religiously-mandated headscarf, or hijab.

The woman told CAIR-OK that a district manager claimed he could not hire her
because her Islamic headscarf "does not fit the Abercrombie image."

"Employers have a clear legal duty to accommodate the religious practices of
their workers," said CAIR-OK Executive Director Razi Hashmi. "To deny someone
employment because of apparent religious bias goes against long-standing
American traditions of tolerance and inclusion."

Hashmi noted that Abercrombie & Fitch's corporate "Code of Business Conduct
and Ethics" states: "The Company will adhere to its employment policies of
non-discrimination as it relates to race, color, religion, age, gender, sexual
orientation or handicap and will ensure compliance with all legal and other
regulations governing employment."

In a letter to Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Michael Jefferies, CAIR-OK asked the
company to 1) offer the Muslim applicant a formal apology, 2) clarify the
company's policy on religious accommodation, and 3) institute workplace
sensitivity and diversity training.

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 and conditions of employment. The act also requires
employers to reasonably accommodate the religious practices of an employee,
unless doing so would create an "undue hardship" for the employer.

The EEOC, or U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, recently issued new
guidelines on accommodating religious beliefs and practices in the workplace.
EEOC officials say the number of religious discrimination complaints has more
than doubled in the last 15 years. The new guidelines offer protection for
workers who wear religious attire such as the hijab.

SEE: New Religious Discrimination Manual Released
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2008-07-30-work-discrimination_N.htm

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties group and has 35 offices and
chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding
of Islam, protect civil liberties, and empower American Muslims.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or
202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations

Ibrahim Hooper, CAIR National Communications Director, +1-202-488-8787,
+1-202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com