Gregg Krupa ( The
Detroit News)DEARBORN — Two Muslim women say the manager of a McDonald’s restaurant refused to hire them and insulted them during job interviews because they wear traditional Islamic dress.
Toi Whitfield, 20, of Detroit, and Quiana Pugh, 25, of Dearborn, filed a lawsuit Thursday in Wayne County Circuit Court against McDonald’s, the owner of the local franchise and its unnamed manager. Their representative said they are considering filing civil rights complaints with the federal and state governments.
“I applied for the McDonald’s position maybe two weeks ago and he simply (told me) I had to make a choice and remove my hijab, or I would not be able to establish employment there,” Pugh said. “When I walked away, I was definitely hurt by it and disturbed. I was confused that it could happen here in Dearborn, with so many Muslims.”
Hijab is an Arabic word meaning “cover.” It refers to traditional Islamic dress, intended to encourage modesty, in which women often cover everything but the hands and face. Finley Management Inc., which runs the franchise, said in a statement it has not been notified of the lawsuit.
“Finley Management has a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination with regard to race, gender, religion or national origin, in hiring, or in any other aspect of employment,” the statement read. “We would caution anyone from jumping to conclusions without having all the facts.”
McDonald’s publishes a corporate handbook with a chapter titled “Our Commitment to Employees,” which says that the world’s largest fast food chain forbids discrimination in employment.
“Each of our employees throughout the world deserves to be treated with fairness, respect and dignity,” the policy statement reads. “We provide equal opportunity for employees and applicants.”
The restaurant in question sits amid one of the largest concentrations of commercial businesses for Arab-Americans in the country. Like many of the national chain fast-food establishments in the area, it has long served some halal food, which conforms to Muslim dietary requirements. “This manager must have just stepped off of some spaceship to think he can do this in this back yard, in Dearborn,” said Nabih Ayad, a civil rights lawyer who represents the women.
Dawud Walid, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan, said that he has eaten at McDonald’s restaurants in Turkey that cater to Muslims and employ them, including numerous women who cover.
“It is extremely disturbing that such discrimination could take place at a location which does not mind collecting Muslim dollars, yet places restriction on Muslim women who wear hijab.” Whitfield said the manager told her she could not wear her headscarf because, “It gets too hot back there.”
“I hope that they learn from their mistakes,” she said. “They should not discriminate against people. Everyone should have an equal chance to work at McDonald’s.”
Wordsmith Confession: The only reason why I’m doing this post, is it gave me an excuse to post this video on a political blog.
A former fetus, the “wordsmith from nantucket” was born in Phoenix, Arizona in 1968. Adopted at birth, wordsmith grew up a military brat. He achieved his B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles (graduating in the top 97% of his class), where he also competed rings for the UCLA mens gymnastics team. The events of 9/11 woke him from his political slumber and malaise. Currently a personal trainer and gymnastics coach.
The wordsmith has never been to Nantucket.
Ok,,, I have no love for McDonalds.. not since they have their 3 sites just for Black Americans, Asian Americans, and Hispanic Americans…
I don’t go there anymore… but the freaky dude is right… if you pay a buck expect a bucks worth of quality…..
Quit your dang whiny fat a$$ complaing about the crappy patties.. the food sucks there but it’s cheap and fast…
If you want fast food expect fast food quality…
As far as the two stupid chicks wanting a job but wanting it their way …. f off…
you want a job you do what the job requires… you conform to the job the job doesn’t conform to you…
OR… don’t apply for the freaking job you parasites…
This is why I despise lawyers…… speaking of parasites…
Agreed.
If the McDonald’s can show that this policy applies to all ethnic groups, and have evidence of prior non-Muslim applicants being turned away for their inability to conform to the uniform requirements of the restaurant, then there is no discrimination.
McDonald’s also has a policy for customers: No shirt, no shirts, no service. This policy is applicable to everyone. A Mexican-American without a shirt or shoes could not pretend to claim discrimination; for the rule is a standard for all customers.
Perhaps the Muslim group defending the young ladies can help find them jobs where they are able to wear the attire they choose; perhaps a Muslim restaurant would allow them that option.
http://www.nextgenerationcorp.com/nextgenblog/
So I suppose what you’re saying is….Hooters is out of the question?
I dunno….So long as the tanks and shorts stay, I might be able to get used to the hijab.
Read: A Hooter’s Tale.
It’s called “marketing,” Einstein. Do you hate capitalism or something? Where’s Mike H.’s America with his threadbare Soviet flag when you need him?
Would they have refused to handle the McRib sandwich?
What a stupid question! Everybody knows that McDonald’s burgers are made from earthworms and sawdust.
Reminds me of the story from Great Britain where a Muslim female sued a hair salon owner for religious discrimination…AND WON. Of course, I’ve come to expect that from GB.
In any event, the woman went into the salon and applied for a job as a hair stylist. The salon owner explained that part of the job requirement was for the stylists to wear their hair in styles that advertised what the stylist were capable of achieving. Thus, Ms. Muslim would have to remove her hijab so that she could wear her hair in some sort of cut or style.
Ms. Muslim said oh no, can’t remove the hijab, it is in violation of my religious/cultural beliefs. Salon owner asks how she can display different hair style. Muslim female says she can’t, salon owner says no job.
The salon owner was successfully sued for discrimination.
Now, I’m a retired law enforcement officer. I can just imagine what I would have been told should I have said that carrying a gun violated my religious beliefs.
More importantly, what would the folks I was supposed to be protecting think about that?
Great Britain better wake the heck up. So should the USA.
It’s just the first step of jihad. Legal jihad. Population jihad. If we allow the line in the sand to be moved, we’ll learn to our dismay that we will be either learning the koran or paying the jizya.
http://gatesofvienna.blogspot.com/2008/07/alarm-bells.html#readfurther
DW 5000
“It’s called “marketing,” Einstein. Do you hate capitalism or something”
You think so dipstick,,, I never would have guessed that had you not pointed it out..
But it puts me off, it’s my choice not to go there..
And as usual you pick one line and try to change the context of the whole post…
Why don’t you just stick to the du where “your kind” fit in ?????
Bamboo slivers under the toenails, a little fire and we’ll find out this is a total setup for a lawsuit. Nothing less and nothing more. The females ? and the lawyer (who ends up with most of the money) who set it up should be in jail under Sheriff Joe in Az. Find out how they like 5 years of bologna sandwiches and pink underwear. Chain gangs are in there also.
‘Wordsmith Confession: The only reason why I’m doing this post, is it gave me an excuse to post this video on a political blog.’
I can’t wait to see what western caricature you choose for this unfortunate young man. But he’s got what it takes to post at Flopping Aces.
Phil Gramm is right.
bigpapa opined:
This is why I despise lawyers…… speaking of parasites…
Get back to us when you have the unfortunate experience of say, a surgeon sewing a sponge into your incision causing major infection then sending you a couple of tickets to the Gatlin Brothers by way of apology for your near death experience.
No hard feelings right?
Arthurstone,
Maybe I should have said the type of lawyer I was referring to,,, or maybe you could have taken a guess…
I’ll make sure and spell it out for you next time…
bigpapa opined:
This is why I despise lawyers…… speaking of parasites…
Not leaving well enough alone he added:
Maybe I should have said the type of lawyer I was referring to,,, or maybe you could have taken a guess…
Something I’ve grown used to seeing here are Flopping Aces.
The ‘what I meant to say’ bit.
Actually you were quite clear about the type of lawyer you were referring to.
All of them.
As you wrote.
You said you hate McDonald’s since they fired up sites aimed at specific demographic groups–three groups to which, I’m guessing, you do not belong. Yeah, you said other things, too, but nothing that would change the thrust of that remark. Maybe you’d like this better (emphasis mine):
There’s your context. Please explain precisely how I’ve misconstrued and misrepresented your contention that you hate McDonald’s because it is now marketing itself to a variety of different ethnic demographic groups.
True dat, brother.
Howdy DW
nice to hear from you today…
I never said I “hate” McDonalds… so you’ve already changed my words… nice work..
To me HATE is a strong word… and I don’t hate anyone…
Why do they have to reach out to specific races????
Doesn’t Nobama say we are all one,, one world????
Go to http://www.365black.com/365black/whatis.jsp and tell me with a straight face that isn’t racist….
You are consistantly wrong,,, but hey at least you’re consistant…
That counts for… well…. nothing..
Oh my Arthurstone…
you are so the judge and jury of my thoughts…
Get out of my head… LOL…
If you’re too simple to ask for a little clarification instead of making an assumption then so be it..
And now you’re judging this site based on my statements….
At least they don’t kick you off like the du did me… just because I disagree 🙂
So your answer to any wrong doing would be to sue someone????
Now that’s a question… just so you don’t get confused…
Right DW,,, ??? True dat brother , Tru dat… ROFLMAO…
This is racist?
Racist?
You’re obviously operating from an internal definition of “racism” that is sharply at odds with the actual definition. If you were able to tell me just what, in your mind, is “racist” about that site, I might have some better understanding of what you were getting at.
I really don’t see why I should take the time to explain anything to you DW… no matter what I say you won’t understand..
But,,, just so you might…..
I find BET, NAACP, Black History Month, Hispanic History month, La Raza, affermative action programs etc… racist…
They put one race above another… simple
NOW, and all the other womens organizations that put women ahead of men,,, just due to their lack of a penis… are sexist.. simple…
so THIS is what keeps this video getting views?