Muslim Workers at Nebraska Meatpacking Plant Complain of Religious Harassment

July 23, 2007

Author: OSKAR GARCIA

Source: The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070723/NATION/707230381/1041/LIFESTYLE04

OMAHA, Neb. -- Supervisors at a meatpacking plant have fired or harassed dozens of Somali Muslim employees for trying to pray at sunset, violating civil rights laws, the workers and their advocates say.

The five- to 10-minute prayer, known as the maghrib, must be done within a 45-minute window around sunset, according to Muslim rules. The workers at the Swift & Co. plant in Grand Island say they quit, were fired or were verbally and physically harassed over the issue.