(ST. PAUL, MN, 7/20/2009) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) announced today that a Wal-Mart store in that state has agreed to accommodate a Muslim employee’s right to pray in the workplace.

 

CAIR-MN said the religious accommodation came after its intervention in the case of a Muslim Wal-Mart employee who was reportedly fired for violating a new supervisor’s ban on prayer during work breaks. A previous supervisor had allowed the worker to perform his daily prayers.

Following discussions between CAIR-MN and local and national representatives of Wal-Mart, the Muslim worker was re-hired and allowed to perform his prayers during breaks.

“We appreciate Wal-Mart’s handling of this case and its willingness to accommodate the religious practices of employees,” said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Coordinator Zahra Aljabri.

Aljabri noted that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act protect the right of any employee with a bona fide religious belief to have accommodation in the workplace as long as that accommodation does not cause “undue hardship” for the employer.

On August 4, CAIR-MN will offer a workshop in St. Paul, Minn., called “Positive Interactions: Working Effectively with Muslim Employees,” which will outline the religious practices of Muslims and how they can be accommodated in the workplace.

CAIR also publishes a booklet, called “An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Relations Practices,” designed to assist employers in providing constitutionally-guaranteed religious accommodation in the workplace.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-MN Civil Rights Coordinator Zahra Aljabri, 805-341-2237; CAIR-MN Communications Director Jessica Zikri, 612-226-3289, E-Mail: jzikri@cair.com; CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam, Esq., 651-587-4712, E-Mail: tislam@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, 202-341-4171, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

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