Muslim worker sues Amway over head scarf, claims religious discrimination

[rug]

on May 27, 2016 at 10:16 AM, updated May 27, 2016 at 2:04 PM

GRAND RAPIDS, MI – A Muslim woman says she was essentially fired at Amway Corp. because she insisted on wearing a religiously mandated Islamic hijab.

She said other workers complained about her head scarf before she was re-assigned after her second day of work at the Ada plant. Her new assignment came with sharply reduced hours, she claims in a federal lawsuit.

Aaminah Ussabur, represented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Michigan and Ohio, alleges religious discrimination against Amway Corp. and ManpowerGroup Inc.

"Ms. Ussabur wore her hijab because of her sincerely held belief that the hijab was a part of her religious obligation," attorneys Lena Masri and Romin Iqbal wrote in court documents.

http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2016/05/muslim_worker_sues_amway_over.html

[Cartoonist]

1. Wrong suit

she insisted on wearing a religiously mandated Islamic hijab

She needs to sue her religion. It is her religion that is denying her freedom.

[rug]

2. I see you value Amway control of workers over freedom of expression.

[Cartoonist]

3. Freedom

I have to wear a uniform on my job. I knew that before I took it. You know that too. So did she.

[rug]

4. Would you like to be able to wear, say, a t-shirt, with a message expressing yourself?

[Cartoonist]

5. Yes to t-shirt

No message needed. I wouldn't mind if it carried the company logo. More comfortable than the button shirts they provide.

Maybe if they allowed her to wear a scarf with the company logo we could all be happy.

[rug]

6. Then the argument isn't really with the scarf, it's with the bosses.

From things small to things large, they expect to control parts of workers' lives out of all proportion to the work done or the money paid.

The real terror is the terror they implant daily over losing a job.

[Cartoonist]

7. Capitalism sucks

I bet we agree on that.

I also believe religion sucks. That's what is the real cause of her losing her job. Blaming her employer is imposing her religion on Amway.

[rug]

8. One difference is I will take the side against capitalism any time.

You will take the side against religion any time.

I think I perceive the greater threat. Amway doesn't need a ban on scarfs to sell their crap. But it's damned handy to keep workers in line.

First they came for the scarfs, but I don't wear scarfs . . . .

[Cartoonist]

9. Easy choice

Amway is willing to give her a job, money and possibly healthcare.

Religion only gives her an empty promise of heaven.

[rug]

10. Give? And what are they taking?

So, would you rather live in a capitalist society that curtails religion or in a socialist society that does not?

[Cartoonist]

11. C

When religion means mandating the wearing of certain clothing, it is the oppressor, not society.

[rug]

12. You have a strange view of oppression.

[Cartoonist]

13. Great pics

look who's smiling

[rug]

14. The oppressed?

http://gamwomen.org/en/news-t/n-en-94-134

[Cartoonist]

15. The employed!

[rug]

16. A cartoon!

To be fair, the guy being squeezed is indeed employed.

[Cartoonist]

17. An actor!

It took me a while to find one of him smiling.

Here's a hypothetical. Not only is he required to wear a uniform, but he must endure hours of makeup. Suppose he converted to the Sikh religion and insisted on wearing a turban. Would the studio be out of line in telling him no?

Before you say it's not the same thing, it is exactly the same thing.

My company allows Sikhs to wear turbans and the sun continues to rise each day. I don't see why Amway can't be accommodating. Why can't her religion be accommodating and allow her to dress as she pleases instead of mandating conformity?

Men aren't required to wear scarves. By defending religion in this instance, you are defending misogyny. That's the way religious apologists roll.

[rug]

18. Wait, you are asking me if a Klingon who becomes a Sikh and must wear a turban is oppressed?

But if only Uhura must wear a hijab I am a misogynist?

Forget the end of the internet. I have found the bottom of the DU Religion Group.

[Cartoonist]

19. Your interpretation of my post is yours

The actor is not really a Klingon. Uhura was never required to wear a hijab. If you could lift yourself from the bottom you would be a better person and not get so many hides and vacations.