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."

FMI: www.cair.com