Suit accuses Chick-fil-A of religious bias (Muslim sues Christian company)

Houston Chronicle ^ | 10/22/02 | ROSANNA RUIZ

[truthandlife]

Houston resident Aziz Latif claims Chick-fil-A's Christian stance runs deeper than simply being closed on Sundays.

In a federal court lawsuit filed Monday, Latif, 25, said the Atlanta-based chain's corporate purpose to glorify God discriminates against its non-Christian employees.

Latif, a Muslim, said he was fired a day after he refused to pray to Jesus Christ during a training session in November 2000.

The lawsuit said Latif was hired in 1996 but does not specify which Houston restaurant he worked for or what position he was being trained for.

A week before his firing, the lawsuit said, an evaluation praised Latif as a "great manager" who knew the "operation side of the business very well."

The lawsuit said the company refuses to pay Latif's medical bills and expenses incurred while a participant in Chick-fil-A's employee benefit plan. He is seeking reinstatement and damages for emotional distress, attorneys fees and back pay.

Neither Latif nor his attorney was available for comment.

Jerry Johnston, a spokesman for Chick-fil-A, said the company had not been served with the lawsuit and he could not comment.

The company's well known religious credo does not infringe upon employees' rights, he said.

Chick-fil-A's no-work-on-Sunday mantra has been in effect since S. Truett Cathy, founder and CEO, opened his first fast food restaurant in 1946. Cathy reportedly conducts Monday morning prayer gatherings at his corporate office open to all employees who wish to attend.

Companies may conduct such prayer meetings as long as attendance is not pegged to promotions, salaries or job assignments, said Jim Sacher, a regional attorney for Houston's Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office.

Sacher said he knew of no similar lawsuits by the EEOC against Chick-fil-A. Any complaints against the chain are confidential, he said.

[Michael2001]

Aw shucks Aziz, guess you'll have to go back to Tajikistan.

[Michael2001]

Bump. And if you live in Virginia be sure to shop at Ukrop's. Big conservative Christian family

[Michael2001]

I wouldn't want to hear the whining that would echo if a Christian was fired for not bowing to Mecca while working for a Muslim owned company.

You're assuming that this guy is telling the truth. I highly doubt his story. Chick-fil-A is a big company; you're telling me that never once has a Hindu, a Jew, an atheist etc. ever worked for Chick-fil-A? Why was this guy fired?

[Michael2001]

My grandfather is an ex-Klan member. When I was younger and at his place, I would meet some of the nicest, most harmless people in the world, who happened to be members of the KKK. They were nice enough people, but if I were black, Catholic, or Jewish, and these people were coming here in droves, I would be concerned.

The Klan is virtually non-existent, so Catholics and Jews don't have much to worry about. But as an Infidel, I am quite worried with regards to Muslim immigration.

Liberals like to say there are over a million Muslims in America, yet very few of them have ever killed anyone. Well when was the last time a KKK member killed a black guy? Does that mean that KKK members aren't a threat to blacks?

[CINightClerk]

If that's so, then I'll make sure to stop hiring any Xtians in my business. I just wish I ate at Chickfila, so I could stop based on this story.

[VOA]

bump