Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!! (OP)
Two young American Muslim women are suing the world's largest chain of fast food restaurants McDonald's over denying them jobs for donning hijab, the Detroit News reported on Friday, July 25.
"I applied for the McDonald's position maybe two weeks ago and he (the manager) simply (told me) I had to make a choice and remove my hijab, or I would not be able to establish employment there," 25-year-old Quiana 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."
Pugh found that she was not the only hijab-clad woman denied jobs in McDonald's branch in Dearborn in the state of Michigan.
Toi Whitfield, 20, from Detroit city, was also denied a job in McDonald's branch in Dearborn in November 2006.
The Muslim pair on Thursday filed a discrimination lawsuit against the fast-food chain before Wayne County Circuit Court.
Many American Muslims have complained of being discriminated against on religious bases.
Last month, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama apologized for two Muslim women after they were barred from sitting behind him at an election rally for wearing hijab.
Last January, a US high-school star runner was pulled out of the track for wearing a uniform that allows her to compete while complying with her Muslim faith.
Islam sees hijab as an obligatory code of dress, not a religious symbol displaying one's affiliations.
There are between six to seven million Muslims living in the United States.
Racist
McDonald's anti-hijab attitude drew fire from lawyers and American Muslims.
"This manager must have just stepped off of some spaceship to think he can do this in this back yard, in Dearborn," said civil rights lawyer Nabih Ayad.
The umbrella Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) denounced the manager's position as 'racist'.
"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," CAIR-Michigan executive director Dawud Walid.
A McDonald's spokeswoman said the management company that runs the Dearborn restaurant "has a strict policy prohibiting any form of discrimination."
The Dearborn restaurant is one of only two McDonald's restaurants in the US that sells halal food.
Whitfield, the Muslim plaintiff, said the lawsuit against McDonald's aims to protect other hijab-wearing girls against discrimination.
"I hope that they learn from their mistakes," said Whitfield.
American Muslims have become sensitized to an erosion of their civil rights since the 9/11 attacks.
A 2007 survey by Pew Research Center and the Pew Forum found that attitudes toward Muslims and Islam have grown more negative in recent years.
"They should not discriminate against people. Everyone should have an equal chance to work at McDonald's," said Whitfield.
Yes, i agree with that but they should be smart and take a lawyer which advice them what to say to candidates. Here i can't see any wisdom to say " your clothes" - which is clear a sign of discrimination.
In my country we have tests and they always says something like: you didn't have the points, sorrryyy. I never heard anyone suing any company for discrimination.
You live in France right?
In your country all private businesses have the right to turn down or fire women wearing a Muslim headscarf.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
Well, I'm against discrimination and all that, however I believe private companies have the right to reject a job applicant on any grounds imaginable, be it clothing, religion or whatever.
Aren't there laws against discrimination, or do those just apply to public companies? Equal opportunities law or something like that?
edit- found it: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html It doesn't say whether it's for all companies or just public ones, but I'm assuming it's for everyone..
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by crayon
Aren't there laws against discrimination, or do those just apply to public companies? Equal opportunities law or something like that?
edit- found it: http://www.eeoc.gov/facts/qanda.html It doesn't say whether it's for all companies or just public ones, but I'm assuming it's for everyone..
There are laws against discrimination and they apply for all companies, I think. I'm just stating my personal belief which is that private company owners should have the right to discriminate.
Imagine a halal shop owner looking for a new clerk and the only person to show up is an atheist islamophobic transexual or something equally islamically impermissible, whom the owner has to hire (because he or she is the only applicant or has the best qualifications).
Now, I now my example is a bit far fetched but theoretically it is possible and I'm quite sure wish wish halal shop owners were able to discriminate in such cases..
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
Oh, okay, I misunderstood, I thought you meant "I believe" as in "if i remember correctly".
Yeah, your example makes sense, I agree. But if that ever happened, then I think there should at least be guidelines for it, like certain criteria where you can choose someone less qualified than another person in favor of their religion/clothing/etc.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by crayon
Oh, okay, I misunderstood, I thought you meant "I believe" as in "if i remember correctly".
Yeah, your example makes sense, I agree. But if that ever happened, then I think there should at least be guidelines for it, like certain criteria where you can choose someone less qualified than another person in favor of their religion/clothing/etc.
I guess their are guidelines already, I don't think you can discriminate someone based on their clothing if your company doesn't have a dress code or if it wasn't mentioned in the ad. You certainly cannot discriminate on grounds of religion, race, ethnicity, I don't know about age and sexual orientation, I guess these are covered too.
I just think a private companies should be allowed to hire whomever they want, whomever they trust, so if they feel uncomfortable with gays or Muslims, so be it.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint
You live in France right?
In your country all private businesses have the right to turn down or fire women wearing a Muslim headscarf.
Romania but here prevail the tests. We have nothing with scarfs and are many new religion which wear scarfs. Even in my town begin to appear muslims - once i could see even 4 women with muslim scarfs
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by Tania
Romania but here prevail the tests. We have nothing with scarfs and are many new religion which wear scarfs. Even in my town begin to appear muslims - once i could see even 4 women with muslim scarfs
I'm sorry, for some reason I thought you were French.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by Chuck
Well they are doing the right way -- hitting where it hurts. Money has power.
Better than breaking windows and doors lol
No they should not sue. The branch is most likely a franchise branch. As the manager you should be able to turn away anyone for any reason, this includes if there wearing hijab.
It doesnt bother me people where a hijab like this:
BUT if a woman is wearing a hijab like this (I would NEVER employ the person)
I would also never employ the person if she came dressed like this
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
^Whats wrong with the jalabi this is the islamic dress bro.
": O Prophet! Tell thy wives and thy daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks close round them (when they go abroad). That will be better, so that they may be recognised and not annoyed. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful. "
In this ayah it says the word jalaabeebihinn which is a cloak like what the 2 ladies are wearing in the last picture you posted. Thats what the Muslim Woman should be wearing.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by qassy!
No they should not sue. The branch is most likely a franchise branch. As the manager you should be able to turn away anyone for any reason, this includes if there wearing hijab.
It doesnt bother me people where a hijab like this:
BUT if a woman is wearing a hijab like this (I would NEVER employ the person)
I would also never employ the person if she came dressed like this
thats is sooo racists..n plus coming from a muslim.. cant believe it. everyone can wear wat ever they feel like it.. wat makes some clothes r okay to wear n others not... i believe everyone should wear wat ever they feel like... its plain n simple. geeez i mean wats wrong with the julbab or as we call it balto... i wear it from time to time in my work n i dont see a problem .. its like paki ppl wear there clothes n watever how come when is comes to jilbab then its like NO... thats pathetic ... ppl need to get USED TO IT... we anit going NO where nor our clothes we r muslims n we r represeting. plus since we r living in a non religious country... then everyone should do watever they feel like n that includes wearing wat ever. ... salamz
p.s those GURLS werent even wearing a jilbab. nor coving there face as u said... shouldnt get a job.... ....
Last edited by arabianprincess; 07-30-2008 at 02:18 AM.
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
format_quote Originally Posted by arabianprincess
thats is sooo racists.
I wish people would stop saying this, Islam is not a race.
format_quote Originally Posted by arabianprincess
everyone can wear wat ever they feel like it.. wat makes some clothes r okay to wear n others not... i believe everyone should wear wat ever they feel like... its plain n simple.
It may seem like that to you but businesses are allowed to have expected standards of dress, particularly for employees who are 'customer facing'.
What would you have said if it was your shop and two women came in for an interview dressed in bikinis?
Also, I would have expected that burger places would have uniforms.
On a slightly different note, I don't think it actually says in the Quran that a head covering is obligatory, does it?
Re: Two Muslim women sue McDonalds for $10 million!!!!!!!
From my understanding Azy it doesnt no! i think dressing modestly is what the Quran teaches us and to me modestly does not mean wearing black cloaks, just my opinion so i know i'm going to get hit left right and centre for this but i'm not going to lie about my beliefs i think that lowering your gaze is a lot more important than getting the women to suffocate under black cloaks and nikabs just so that it makes it easier for the muslim men not to commit sin! and what about the women why dont men do the same so that the women can be helped too in order for them to not commit sin.
men should stop seeing women as pieces of meat and learn to respect them, just like they respect their mothers and sisters and daughters they need to constantly remind themselves that this women is someone's sister and mother or daughter too so how would you feel if someone did that to your mother, sister or daughter?????????, and no dont give me that argument about how if the woman is covered the she will gain respect i am not encouragng women to go out in short skirts but i am saying that we should dress MODESTLY and i'm sorry but to me the above pics, have never been modesty nor ever will be its extreme!
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but here prevail the tests. We have nothing with scarfs and are many new religion which wear scarfs. Even in my town begin to appear muslims - once i could see even 4 women with muslim scarfs 
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