(ATLANTA, GA – 7/11/2019) The Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations today announced that one of its clients has received a settlement worth almost $25,000 after experiencing anti-Muslim harassment on the job.
As part of a confidential settlement agreement, CAIR Georgia has agreed not to publicly identify the employer responsible for the anti-Muslim harassment.
“We thank God for this positive outcome, and we strongly encourage other Georgia Muslims who experience workplace discrimination to stand up for their rights,” said CAIR-Georgia staff attorney Murtaza Khwaja. “Do not suffer quietly. Alert us immediately so that we can help you stop the discrimination and protect your rights.”
In a statement, CAIR Georgia executive director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“In the nearly two years since Donald Trump took office, our office has received a significant increase in complaints of anti-Muslim bigotry within the workplace, which now accounts for the majority of our casework.
“Among other things, a grocery store manager threw away a Muslim woman’s prayer rug. A company banned a Muslim from attending Friday prayer. A group of employees openly mocked their Muslim co-worker, calling him ‘ISIS.’ A restaurant manager drastically cut an employee’s hours because she started wearing a hijab.
“These and other acts of employment discrimination are just as illegal today as they were before President Trump took office. Employers must grant their employees reasonable religious accommodations. Employers must protect their employees from bigotry at the hands of co-workers or supervisors. Employers must not undermine, elevate, or otherwise treat employees differently based on their religious identity. Employers who do so should expect to face the legal and financial consequences.”
CONTACT: CAIR-Georgia executive director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, [email protected]; Staff Attorney Murtaza Khwaja, [email protected]