Posted on 12/15/2010 6:59:19 AM PST by marshmallow
WASHINGTON – The federal government sued a suburban Chicago school district Monday for denying a Muslim middle school teacher unpaid leave to make a pilgrimage to Mecca that is a central part of her religion.
In a civil rights case, the department said the school district in Berkeley, Ill., denied the request of Safoorah Khan on grounds that her requested leave was unrelated to her professional duties and was not set forth in the contract between the school district and the teachers union. In doing so the school district violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to reasonably accommodate her religious practices, the government said.
Khan wanted to perform the Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia which every adult Muslim is supposed to make at least once in a lifetime if they are physically and financially able to. Millions go each year.
Khan started as a middle school teacher for Berkeley School District 87 — about 15 miles west of Chicago — in 2007. In 2008, she asked for almost three weeks of unpaid leave to perform the Hajj. After the district twice denied her request, Khan wrote the board that "based on her religious beliefs, she could not justify delaying performing hajj," and resigned shortly thereafter, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in Chicago.
Berkeley School District compelled Khan to choose between her job and her religious beliefs, the lawsuit said.
The government asked the court to order the school district to adopt policies that reasonably accommodate its employees' religious practices and beliefs, and to reinstate Khan with back pay and also pay her compensatory damages.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Let’s hope this outrage gets as much publicity as it can and backfire on the DoIJ-Muslim outreach program.
***The government asked the court to order the school district to adopt policies that reasonably accommodate its employees’ religious practices and beliefs,...***
What about the students? Where are the creches and the Christmas plays?
Are students denied religious rights that are given to the teachers?
Is Mecca closed for Summer Recess?
they only have to make that trip ONCE in a lifetime... why in the hell does she have to do it during the school year!
THANK YOU.
There is no requirement to make a Haj in any particular year. The lady could easily have waited until after her early and highly-compensated retirement from teaching.
Golly, I wonder why so many of those ignorant, prejudiced voters think Barack Obama is a Moslem ...
Two words... TORT reform...
“They denied us the Hajj!”
Obscure Dune reference...
the woman is looking for a handout with the assistance of DOJ. More Muslim BS PC correctness. If she wanted to go so bad, she could have:
1.taken personal leave for 3 weeks at no expense for taxpayers.
2. when graduating from college she could have gone
3. the dingbat woman could have used sometime in the summer to go for the so called pilgrimage.
Instead now she files a discrimination suit because her civil rights were violated. the 1964 civil rights act should not be utilized to give morons religious rights that are cultish activities. Lets face it this country is becoming more and more pro muslim that if you are a christian or jew, you will lose your rights first and the muslims will get everything.
wonder if the Amish and Mennonites will loss their status as sects, and it be given to the muslim religious nutjobs.
That and the fact that the Hajj is NOT mandatory only "encouraged" for those who can afford the trip (and probably the reason our good Buds (yeah, right! /sarc) the Saudis continue this precept in order to enrich their coffers) and if you take this and combine it with her age (I estimate no more than 30) would argue that she has another 50 years or so to make her "pilgramage," thus for her to insist on making now or during the school year is simply an act of hubris and meant to curry special favors not afforded all other educators.
Motion from the School Board to dismiss granted!!!
The operative clause in this entire story is, “if they are physically and financially able to.” She is not financially able to go if she must work. Why not go during the three week CHRISTMAS break, or during summer break? This should be easily defensible by the school district.
I saw a TV report which said she is 29. I've also wondered if she had been praying five times per day, two of which would had to have fallen during the school day? That's another tenet of Islam.
The Hajj: A pilgrimage that occurs on the last month of the Islamic calendar
The Islamic calendar is purely a lunar calendar, it is not synchronized with the seasons, with an annual drift of 11 or 12 days.
No need for her to attend during the school year, Hajj will occure during the sumer months as well.
Even stronger evadence of discrimination against Christians, ordered NOT to celebrate Christmas with symbols, songs, colors, etc at Federally regulated public schools.
But it’s ok for the Muslim faith to be granted ‘special’ privileges not granted to all.
Where are the good lawyers when you need one to fight this, should be a slam dunk win for the school board.
I’m a lapsed Celt and we worship trees. I think I should get a paid vacation to go camping in every year. I wonder if Eric Holder is home? I think I’ll call him and see if we can expand this lawsuit.
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