Muslim ex-employee sues Disney over harassment, discrimination

Muslim ex-employee sues Disney over harassment, discrimination

Tue Aug 14, 2012 7:35AM GMT

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The harassment and discrimination in this case is unprecedented.”

Attorney Anne Richardson of the American Civil Liberties Union

A former Muslim employee of the Walt Disney has filed a lawsuit against the giant entertainment company for harassment of its employees and religious discrimination,Press TV reports.

Imane Budlal, the 26-year-old former employee of Walt Disney, says that she had been subjected to discrimination by the company on the ground of her Islamic beliefs. 

The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of the young Moroccan Muslim female. 

“The harassment and discrimination in this case is unprecedented,” said Attorney Anne Richardson. 

Richardson noted that the Moroccan, who is also an American citizen, was subjected to years of ethnic insults because of her religious beliefs, adding that “she suffered from two years of comments being called, ‘camel,’ being called a ‘terrorist,’ and being accused of making bombs.”

Disney authorities claim that Budlal’s hijab (Muslim women’s wear) did not comply with the company’s strict dress code. 

The female employee even offered to wear a scarf in colors matching her uniform or bearing a Disney logo, but the firm's authorities denied the offer and asked her instead to work in the back area out of the sight of customers.

The company fired her after she refused to wear a large hat on top of her scarf. 

Attorney Reem Salahi told Press TV that the Disney Land authorities' request for her wearing a hat was meant to hide her religious identity, and so was “a kind of mockery of her religion.”

The Disney authorities, however, have released a statement, claiming that “the Walt Disney parks and resorts have a long history of accommodating a variety of religious requests from cast members of all faiths.” 

Despite the company’s efforts to portray a tolerating image of itself, Attorney Richardson says that the case shows that the firm practices discrimination. 

Walt Disney now faces multiple charges, including failure to prevent discrimination and harassment and wrongful termination in violation of public policy. 

MY/HN/HJL

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/08/14/256144/disney-faced-with-discrimination-charges/