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Muslim Headscarves prevented McD's job, women say

  2. DeliaTheArtist
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"Two Muslim women claim in a lawsuit that a Detroit area McDonald's would not hire them because they wore traditional Islamic headscarves.

The Detroit Free Press reports that Toi Whitfield of Detroit and Quiana Pugh of Dearborn filed the discrimination suit Thursday.

The women say they were told by a manager that they had to remove their hijabs to work at the Dearborn restaurant.

Dearborn has one of the largest Arab-American and Muslim communities in the United States A spokeswoman for McDonald's Corp tells the newspaper that the company will issue a statement.

The restaurant is one of only two US McDonald's that sells halal Chicken McNuggets. Halal refers to meat prepared under Islamic guidelines. "
DeliaTheArtist

8 responses // Muslim Headscarves prevented McD's job, women say

  • Weirdly enough I side with McDonalds on this one. If you work for a company, and they have a dress code you should have to abide by that dress code despite your religious beliefs.
    BenDorries
  • But the weird part is that it's in a very muslim community; they even changed the way they prepared food to accomodate the religion!
    DeliaTheArtist
  • It's funny that they will go out of their way to sell halal chicken Mcnuggets, but they won't hire people who want to wear headscarves. The difference is that halal food makes them more money, employees with headscarves don't.

    I see why this is troublesome, but if I was applying for a job and said that my personal beliefs required that I wear a skirt to work everyday, I wouldn't get hired. Everyone has personal preferences. Just because some people have a religion that coincides with their preferences doesn't mean that they have to be allowed any more than someone with personal preferences with no religion behind them.

    I do believe in freedom of religion, and freedom from religion though, and I think we have done enough to marginalize the Muslim religion.

    Just let them work there.
    maxamust
  • I'm just sorry that they wanted to get a job at McDonald's.
    Kewara81
  • McDonalds changes their menu slightly for every country. They don't serve beef in India.

    I don't think the women have a case. It sounds like they would've got the job if they removed their hijabs. But if they can prove a disproportionate number of Muslims work at McDonalds they might have something.

    McDonalds has a dress code. If they don't want to take off their hijabs, then they shouldn't work there.
    flyingkick
  • As long as McDonald's does not fire people who show up wearing a cross around their neck, I don't see why they are justified in discriminating against women wearing a headscarf. It does not interfere with their performance and they could still wear the stupid McDonald's cap on top of the scarf, so they would still abide by the dress code.
    JanaPokana
  • No Mcdonalds are right about this, there is a uniform, you wear it.

    A hijab is not suitible for a busy "kitchen"

    and to Jana Polanka, You are not allowed to wear any jewellery except plain wedding bands (many people are not able to take them off either way)
    Owwmykneecap
  • BenDorries, that's a short-sighted point of view. Not wanting to tyake off your hijab isn't like not wanting to take off your crucifix necklace. A hijab isn't just a 'symbol' of being religious - its a deeply-entrenched part of belief in Islam and the hadiths of the Qur'an for many women. If a Muslim woman believes that her 'beauty' should be concealed from anyone but her family to preserve her modesty, as part of the instructions she receives from her god, then she should be entitled to leave her hijab on at work. It makes no difference to McDonalds, or any other employer.
    LindseyIndigo

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