American designer sacks worker over hijab

Abercrombie & Fitch is being sued by a stockroom worker who claims she was fired for refusing to take off her Muslim headscarf while at work.
Hani Khan, 20, said a manager asked if she could remove the hijab while working and when she refused she was suspended, and then sacked.
It was the second time in as many years the clothes retailer was charged with discriminating against Muslim women over the wearing of the garment.
Khan was employed for several months, in 2009 and 2010, at a California branch of Hollister Co, a subsidiary of the Abercrombie clothing chain.
She said that when she was hired, a manager at the store, in San Mateo’s Hillsdale Mall, said it was okay for her to wear the hijab as long as it was in company colours.
But four months later she claims a district manager and human resources manager asked if she could remove the hijab while working.
When she refused, she was suspended and then fired.
Abercrombie & Fitch has become well-known for its controversial ‘look policy’, which provides strict guidelines governing how employees dress.
It stipulates staff must represent ‘a natural classic American style’.
It instructs them on everything from how to wear their hair (clean and natural) to how long they should wear their nails (a quarter of an inch past the end of the finger).
Khan, who is now a college student studying political science, told a press conference: ‘Growing up in this country where the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion, I felt let down.’
She added: ‘This case is about principles, the right to be able to express your religion freely and be able to work in this country.’
The New Albany, Ohio-based company said it did not tolerate discrimination and told The Associated Press: ‘We comply with the law regarding reasonable religious accommodation, and we will continue to do so.
‘We are confident that when this matter is tried, a jury will find that we have fully complied with the law.’
Abercrombie has been the target of numerous discrimination lawsuits, including a federal class action brought by black, Hispanic and Asian employees and job applicants that was settled for $40 million in 2004.
The company admitted no wrongdoing, though it was forced to implement new diversity policies.
The lawsuit filed in a U.S. District Court in San Francisco came after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled in September that Khan was fired illegally.
Khan’s lawsuit was filed in conjunction with the EEOC’s lawsuit.
It is not the first time the company has been charged with discriminating against Muslim women over the wearing of a hijab.
In 2009, Samantha Elauf, who was 17 at the time, filed a federal lawsuit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, alleging the company rejected her for a job because she was wearing a hijab.
‘Abercrombie prides itself on requiring what it calls a natural classic American style. But there’s nothing American about discriminating against someone because of their religion.’

Culled from : Nigerian Tribune