Controversy Shrouds Muslim Women's Head Coverings

April 15, 2010

Author: Marisol Bello

Source: USA TODAY

http://content.usatoday.com/dist/custom/gci/InsidePage.aspx?cId=lsj&sParam=38213152.story

College sophomore Hani Khan had worked for three months as a stockroom clerk at a Hollister Co. clothing store in San Francisco when she was told the head scarf she wears in observance of Islam violated the company's "look policy."

The policy instructs employees on clothing, hairstyles, makeup and accessories they may wear to work. When supervisors told Khan she had to remove the scarf, known as a hijab, to work at the store, she refused on religious grounds. A week later, she says, she was fired.

In February, Khan filed a federal job discrimination complaint against Hollister and its parent company, Abercrombie & Fitch. She is among a growing number of Muslim women filing complaints of discrimination at work, in businesses or in airports.