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.

[NYS_Eric]

Forgive me if I wait to hear the company's side of this story. I highly doubt his central contention-- fired because he wouldn't pray.

[duckman]

He may still believe in the custom that one hand is for eating and one hand is for wiping. Eccch

[RedBloodedAmerican]

Here is hoping they change their menu to inlcude BBQ Pork sandwiches

[philosofy123]

Let that SOB work for a Moslem establishment like the Luis Farrakhan businesses! If Christians are systematically discriminated against in ALL Moslem countries; then I need from him to prove to me (to the court) that he has been pleading with the Moslem governments for equal treatment of their minorities! He needs to show that he has been pleading with the Moslem legislators to declare separation of Mosque and State. Unless he proves that he is an activist for equality in his native Moslem lands, he does not deserve to gain from the fruit of our equality. These guys cannot have it both ways, treat others like crap in their countries, and come here and expect to be treated equal after praying for our destruction openly in the US Mosques, and all the Mosques around the globe!

[3AngelaD]

Note to self: Eat lunch at Chick-Fil-A. If this guy doesn't want to work in a Christian atmosphere, he should get a job somewhere else. Perhaps there is a goat-burger-sheeps'-eyeball franchise somewhere in the Houston area that is looking for a manager. If he is not a native-born American, he can return to the hell hole from whence he immigrated.

[3AngelaD]

Great, just what I need is an excuse to go shopping. I have been eyeing those pin-striped pants and skirts at Banana Rep, now I'll have to go buy them. Then I'll swing by Chick-Fil-A for lunch. Thanks for the tip.

[lormand]

Private companies should be able to hire and fire any F-ing person they want.

[PLK]

On a side note: buy as many clothes as possible from The Gap/Old Navy/Banana Republic. That great company gives all its political donations to Republicans, and zero, zilch, nada to the 'Rats!

How do you know this? It's certainly not what I would have expected.

[DWSUWF]

I'm disappointed that they didn't refrain from hiring the Satan-worshipping SOB in the first place.

I don't want to eat in an establishment which sells food that employs a damnable moslem. They can't be trusted.

Now, I'm not against them working per se, at least until it can be decided what to do with them. And I don't mind it if a moslem is employed to handle my food after I've excreted it. (cleaning sewer pipes, etc.)

[philosofy123]

Let that SOB work for a Moslem establishment like the Luis Farrakhan businesses! If Christians are systematically discriminated against in ALL Moslem countries; then I need from him to prove to me (to the court) that he has been pleading with the Moslem governments for equal treatment of their minorities! He needs to show that he has been pleading with the Moslem legislators to declare separation of Mosque and State. Unless he proves that he is an activist for equality in his native Moslem lands, he does not deserve to gain from the fruit of our equality. These guys cannot have it both ways, treat others like crap in their countries, and come here and expect to be treated equal after praying for our destruction openly in the US Mosques, and all the Mosques around the globe!

[Chancellor Palpatine]

Shhhhhhhh - you're making sense. Quit it. this is FR, doncha know, home of the double standard.

[Rustheman]

Speaking of Christian businesses.

Women, buy Ann Taylor clothing. The CEO is a member of my church and runs the company on Christian principals.

[craqed]

no offense, but so was bernie ebbers at one time... :(

[nina0113]

We're stopping at Chik-Fil-A for dinner, right?