Posted on 02/02/2012 5:51:53 AM PST by SoFloFreeper
A South Florida Muslim woman has hired a lawyer after claiming she was refused service at a Boca Raton gas station because of her religion.
La Fleur Mohamed said she was humiliated in the incident at a Chevron gas station.
Very painful, very painful -- (I) felt really embarrassed," she said.
Mohamed said the attendant refused to let her fill up because she wears niqab, or face veil, because of her religion. She claimed the attendant threw the money back at her and told her to leave.
“I said, ‘Excuse me, but this is my religious right.’ She said, ‘Well, I need to see you.’ I said, ‘No, you don’t. Please just give me $20 on pump No. 1,’ and that’s when she just threw my money back at me,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed called 911 and a police officer showed up, but the attendant wouldn’t change her mind.
“He went in and asked her why she’s not serving me, and she said that it’s company policy not to serve people like me,” Mohamed said.
Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office records state Mohamed did not have enough gas to get to another station.
Dispatch also told arriving deputies, "They are refusing to give her gas because of her religion."
Mohamed said Chevron officials apologized but claimed they found no evidence of discrimination, and she hired a lawyer, Wilfredo Ruiz.
“In this particular case, when somebody’s escorted by law enforcement and asked to be served and what she hears is a refusal, there’s no doubt that this is a violation of Title 2 of the Civil Rights Act,” Ruiz said.
Mohamed is also taking her complaint to the Florida Commission on Human Relations, a state agency that is now investigating.
“I need people to be aware that we are here. We’re Americans, and we deserve the same right, the same treatment as everyone else,” Mohamed said.
Mohamed said she wants an apology and for Chevron to launch a discrimination training program for employees.
In response, Chevron spokesman Brent Tippen released the following statement:
"Chevron continues to take Ms. Mohamed’s allegations seriously.
"In response to the incident which occurred in October last year, we conducted a thorough investigation. We spoke with our employee cashier and reviewed the store surveillance tape. The incident occurred within a few days of Halloween -- a time when retailers are prone to increased theft from persons wearing masks and other facial coverings. In light of this concern, we acknowledge that our employee did ask Ms. Mohamed to remove her veil for security purposes; when she refused, she was denied service.
"We fully believe that our employee acted without the intent to violate Ms. Mohamed’s religious principles and any suggestion that discrimination is acceptable at Chevron is completely false. Chevron employs 60,000 people from countries across the globe. Our Human Rights policy requires that we treat all people with respect and dignity.
"Regardless, we regret the misunderstanding. We have apologized twice to Ms. Mohamed and encouraged our employees to be more aware of potential diversity issues."
Local 10 asked Tippen, if the employee thought Mohamed was going to steal or that she was dressed for Halloween, how would he explain the attendant refusing to serve Mohamed when the Palm Beach County deputy was there, vouching that Mohamed was a legitimate customer? Tippen responded:
"The cashier was asked by the police officer about the issue. The cashier indicated that she was following publicly posted instructions to ask customers to remove masks or other facial coverings for security camera purposes. This is consistent with Chevron’s focus on safety for both its employees and customers. The officer was only inquiring about the cashier’s decision, not to assist with the transaction.
"Again we acknowledge that this incident was a misunderstanding. It is not our policy to deny service to customers based on their religious dress. Ms. Mohamed would be served if she came into one of our stores tomorrow."
I agree with you. If someone wants to live in our country, let them adjust to US. I’m tired of tolerating weirdo freaks with violent religions. If they don’t like it, they don’t have to come here to live.
—There is no law that says a company has to do business with everyone.—
That is a true statement, but very misleading since there are plenty of laws about what reasons businesses can use to refuse service to someone. It is highly regulated.
http://www.legalzoom.com/us-law/equal-rights/right-refuse-service
I remember the time when Americans of Japanese origin faced similar threats and were relocated to remote areas for their own safety. (Mostly, but some who were suspected of helping Imperial Japan were held in camps.)
Some Muslims living here express great concern for their safety.. well we can do no less to protect them than we did to protect the Americans of Japanese origin -- and the sooner the better.
The company has a policy that has absolutely nothing to do with religion, go somewhere else.. but no! Some Muslims have other reasons -- Keep on yanking the junk yard dogs' chains, Muhammed. That's real smart.
Lots of people of all denominations bend their rules some. Maybe she’s a MINO?
—The proprietor has the right to refuse service to anyone.—
Not true: http://www.legalzoom.com/us-law/equal-rights/right-refuse-service
—She also said about the clerk” she said that it’s company policy not to serve people like me,” —
I think she is paraphrasing. She may be interpretting “we don’t serve people who cover their face” to mean “we don’t serve people ‘like you’”. English is a very precise language and I think it is her second language.
And besides, if there are no other witnesses, her claim about what was said is worthless. Another infamous woman claimed that the Duke LaCross team did all sorts of bad stuff that they didn’t do.
Serves her right. Muslim women aren’t allowed to drive, or even leave the house without a male relative in tow.
(Is the < /sarc > tag really needed?)
The officer was only inquiring about the cashier’s decision, not to assist with the transaction.
What?!! You mean I can't call 9-1-1 to get an officer to come make things right at McDonald's if they put pickles on my Big Mac and I told them not to?!
Good for Chevron for not backing down.
I have seen signs in many establishments that indicate that patrons must remove any masks. My bank asks customers to remove hats and sunglasses.
Sounds like a mohammedan is just trying to provoke.
Fleur? Oh, I’ll bet she’s a flower.
Likewise, if my bank proscribes no covered faces, facemasks etc then those are the rules any customer abides by. Religious custom, whatever the religion and however it is dictated doesn’t matter. Under what law is it dictated that a private business has to serve everyone regardless of the rules or circumstances? If that were the case then there are a lot of muslim cabdrivers and other muslim businesses who have refused to serve customers because of their service dogs, use of alcohol and in some cases because they objected to the clothing worn by females. The sons of pig f’n dogs can pack it up their arses.
In spite of the abundant evidence all over the world of how non-muslims fare under the influence of Islam.
Our how they treat each other, for that matter.
My bank asks customers to remove hats and sunglasses.
A nice little religious perk to be able to use the Constitution and the Koran alternately to get what you want.
Another ill to thank the Kennedys for—opening up the country to the 3rd world muslims
Good point.
Sounds like Ms. Mohamed needs some cultural sensitivity training. She clearly doesn’t understand that individuals wearing masks and other facial coverings are seen as potetential threats in our culture...the one she has CHOSEN to live in.
When Western women go to Islamic countries, they typically wear whatever coverings are needed to avoid offending others and running afoul of the law. Muslim women in the US should reciprocate. There seems to be a “racism” against Americans and other Westerners in that regard, as we are expected to abide by their customs, but they often show contempt for ours.
Also, I believe someone who follows Sharia law so closely that she refuses to remove her face covering in public, should not even be out in public, without a male relative escorting her.
>>>Duh, she was paying cash up front.
If something happens you can usually take the license number and description of the car. Or pass a law you can’t cover your face.<<<
Paying cash upfront is irrelevant. After handing him the cash, she could have pulled out a gun and robbed and possibly killed the cashier.
Shrugs, serve them but hold a gun on them till they leave if they are wearing facial coverings. I mean it’s a matter of self defense.
What if her money is counterfeit? Then the employee on the hook for $20 and out of a job for violating company policy.
Indeed, according to her "religion", she shouldn't even be driving a car.
"I'm sorry, ma'am, I too am a devout Muslim. Certainly you realize that our religion requires me now to stone you to death for driving an automobile..."
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