Supreme Court Declines to Consider Religious Discrimination and Racial Profiling Cases

October 2, 2001

Source: The Arizona Republic

On October 2, 2001, The Arizona Republic reported that "a Muslim woman will not be allowed to pursue claims that her boss violated her rights by pressuring her to stop wearing a head scarf to work." Zenib Ali said she "was told in 1996 to stop wearing the scarf at work or she would be transferred to a position with less customer interaction...She said her religion requires her head to be covered in the presence of men who are not family members...The Supreme Court declined on Monday to consider reinstating Zeinab Ali's lawsuit against Alamo Rent-A-Car Inc.

"Groups like the American Jewish Congress and Anti-Defamation League said the rulings needed to be overturned...They said bosses can pressure Orthodox Jewish men not to wear skull caps, Sikhs to take off turbans and Pentecostal women to substitute pants for skirts... The case predates the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Many Muslims have complained that their dress or appearance has elicited harassment or worse since the attacks."