A prominent national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization is calling on a Virginia-based convenience store chain to offer an apology to a Muslim woman who was allegedly denied service at one of the chain’s stores in that state because she wore an Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
The Muslim customer told the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) that she entered the Valero Fas Mart in Fredericksburg, Va., on November 9 to make a purchase. When she approached the cashier to pay, she was allegedly told to remove her hijab if she wanted to be served. The cashier reportedly said the reason for that demand was that the store security cameras would not be able get a clear image of the Muslim customer’s face, despite the fact that her full face was visible.
To comply with the cashier’s demands, and despite her sincere religious beliefs that she must cover her hair at all times, the Muslim customer says she pulled her scarf back slightly to expose her hairline. In spite of this attempt to avoid confrontation with the cashier, the Muslim customer was allegedly told to leave the store without being served.
Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion in places of public accommodation and service.
In a letter to Valero Fas Mart, CAIR National Legal CounselNadhira Al-Khalili asked the company to investigate the incident, reprimand the cashier, provide the Muslim customer with a written apology, and institute sensitivity and diversity training for staff.
CAIR is urging American Muslims and other people of conscience to contact Valero Fas Mart and urge the company to address the Muslim customer’s concerns.