Weighing in Muslim judge refused employment scarf

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By Mark Sherman

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court will consider the complaint of discrimination in the employment of a Muslim woman who was rejected for a single order Abercrombie & Fitch clothes after she returned to her job interview wearing a black scarf, which conflicts with the dress code of the company ,

The case was investigated argued Wednesday in which the employer action to take to accommodate the religious beliefs of the employee or job search. In the middle of the case is that the applicant Samantha ELAUF never expressed explicitly religious views or need to wear a headscarf at work, even if the assistant store manager, who was interviewed assumed ELAUF applicable which a Muslim dressed, how they did it for religious reasons.

Abercrombie & Fitch has changed since its policy on the veil and made similar claims elsewhere. But he continued to fight the demand for ELAUF to the Supreme Court.

ELAUF was 17 when he after a "model" position, interviewing the company calls its sales staff at Abercrombie Kids store in a shopping center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2008. She convinced the deputy director Store. But his request was hesitant her shawl or scarf because it regarded as contrary to the policy of the company is a derivative of what he called Abercrombie East Coast college or preppy style code.

At the time of the interview, the policy requires employees to a way that is compatible with Abercrombie sells clothing and banning the wearing of headscarves or to dress in black. The company said it was their policy changed veil in 2010, but the ban in black clothes before.

The woman who consulted the interview adopted a top-level supervisor and not to ELAUF rent then.

The Federal Commission for Equality at Work a complaint on behalf ELAUF and finally the jury $ 20,000.

But the federal appeals court in Denver launched the judgment and concluded that Abercrombie & Fitch was not responsible for ELAUF never asked the companies to facilitate their struggle against political handkerchief.

The organizations of state and local governments support the companies in the concern that if the EEOC rules, would be exposed to multiple discrimination complaints that large employers.

Muslim, Christian and Jewish defense organizations such as groups of gay weighed on the side of ELAUF rights.

A law brief on behalf of Orthodox Jews argued that require job seekers to the need to rent added to the expression for special treatment in the context of religion less likely no reason for the decision. Orthodox Jews wear a cap or yarmulke, or can not work on Saturdays regularly advised to keep this information until after its discontinuation said attorney Nathan Lewin in his statement to the Supreme Court.