Muslim Fired

October 7, 2000

Source: Star Tribune

On October 7, 2000, the Star Tribune reported that, "the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a company for firing a Muslim worker who refused to shave his beard for religious reasons. ABB Alstom Power/Integrated C-E Services fired Faieclice Bey of Pittsburgh on March 5 for violating its rule that employees must remain clean-shaven so a half-face respirator mask would remain sealed to his skin, the lawsuit states. But the EEOC said the company discriminated against Bey by firing him instead of letting him wear an alternative respirator that could accommodate his beard. Company officials declined to comment on the lawsuit, filed late last week, because they had not seen it."