Also from CAIR Chicago

CAIR-CHICAGO FILES BIAS COMPLAINT FOR MUSLIM WORKER - TOP

(CHICAGO, IL, 6/8/07) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Chicago) has filed a complaint with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations on behalf of a Muslim employee who allegedly suffered discrimination in the workplace.

The employee, who is of Indian heritage, says colleagues and a supervisor at Network Video Production in Chicago denigrated his faith and national origin through bigoted comments. He also alleges that his employer decreased his work assignments and delayed sending paychecks after he complained about one of those comments. According the Muslim worker, this alleged retaliation made it impossible for him to maintain a living wage, and he was therefore forced to resign.

Even after resigning from the company, the Muslim worker claims staff of his former employer harassed and intimidated him when they encountered each other at other work sites.

"Every American employee deserves a workplace free of religious or ethic discrimination," said CAIR-Chicago staff attorney Rima Kapitan. "Companies have a legal obligation to prevent a hostile work environment and to refrain from retaliating against workers who assert their rights."

Kapitan says CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," designed to prevent just such incidents.

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 33 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to promote justice, enhance the understanding of Islam, and empower American Muslims.