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.

[reformed_democrat]

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.

If I knew one of the requirements of the job was to bow toward Mecca during the course of the work day, I would not take the job in the first place.

It's called freedom of choice.

[Hila]

The Christian would not be working for a muslim company in the first place. And furthermore, we don't have any proof that the muslim in question was obligated to pray to Jesus.

[Hila]

If the story bears any truth, it's that muslims want to infiltrate Christian businesses to make impose their "freedoms". While Christians will stay out of the demonic muslim businesses and leave them be. So, where is the double standard in respecting what others want to believe?

[Destructor]

How long are we going to cater to clymers (like this one) the issue of religion? Muslims have no problem with forcing their religion on the rest of the world!

[American in Israel]

If this guy doesn't want to work in a Christian atmosphere, he should get a job somewhere else.

Note to self, if Moslems do not work in this place, I have a lesser chance of dying by poisoning, or being shot for eating the pizza or watching someone go up in a fireball after yelling Allah ak bar... Sounds good to me, hope they open a franchise in Jerusalem.

This may sound racist, but then I have been living with them in Jihad mode for three years now and you guys are just starting. Trust me, three years of bus bombs and screw bombs will make a "believer" out of ya! My last visit to the states and I found I missed the Waiter with the Glock at the door. I just feel a lot safer in a society that is armed.

[Steve0113]

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

Good idea.

This story flunks the sniff test. For one, this is not characteristic Christian behavior. On the other hand, lying IS characteristic of Muslims. Who to believe?

[American in Israel]

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.

Don't worry, you won't. They just behead them, not fire them. If you refuese Islam, you are a dead man. Corpses don't whine, and Non-Islamics are forbidden to sue a Moslem in Moslem court.

[MissAmericanPie]

The companies first tip off should have been the guys prayer rug.

[twigs]

I'm actually surprised that he ever got a job there in the first place. I guess they had to break down and was not allowed to hire who they wanted. Many years ago, I had friends who worked for Chick-Fil-A and the manager attended our church. Everyone who worked there was a Christian and I was told that anyone who managed the stores had to give a statement of faith. But that was 20 years ago or so.

[American in Israel]

. And furthermore, we don't have any proof that the muslim in question was obligated to pray to Jesus.

Well we have the word of an Islamic who's religious teachings tell him that to lie to infidels brings honor on the family, vs the Christian business who's religious teachings say all men have free will to choose Christ or not, (so to force religion on someone is against the religion), and to lie is to break one of the 10 commandments.

Oh, decisions, decisions... Only a liberal could not figure this one out. (Translation: Islamic gold digger attacking the infidels, again.)

[TomSmedley]

It's great to know I'm supporting good Christian businesses. I wish there were even more out there.

I had the pleasure of attending an event that featured this balding, beaming, Baptist gentleman. He is one of the most supremely happy people I've ever met. Chik-Fil-A is privately held, so that they can support a wide variety of charitable endeavors without having to justify that expenditure to stockholders! Mr. Cathy also teaches a sunday school class of 13 year-old boys, since that's such a critical age for that demographic. ("Hang around with foolish people, and you'll be foolish. Hang around with wise people, and you'll be wise. Hang around with bald people ... !")

EAT MOR CHIKN!

[nina0113]

I actually shared an office with a muslim a few years ago - he did keep a prayer rug in his bookshelf & used it when possible. He was a techie, so was not always at his desk at prayer time. It inspired me to clean my desk, because my side of the office was in the direction of Mecca, & I didn't think he should have to face my normal disarray when praying.

I shared an office with him for close to a year, and it's impossible for me to believe that he would ever be involved in any terrorist activity. He was one of the kindest & most gentle people I've ever known.

[mikeIII]

Nonsense! No other religion other than Islam, if a religion it is, has taboos and punishments concerning attitudes toward other faiths. Other religions respect humans and their faiths, whatever they may be. Not Islam! I would have no problem bowing my head along with other other Muslims just out of respect for their own beliefs, ONLY if they had similar respect for mine. For Muslims it is sacrilege to do anything that may be remotely construed as anti-Islam, anti-mohammad! I know companies that are pressured to allow Muslims to prayer-time several times during the work-day.

There was recently a case of a moslem copper in UK who objected to the sign of the cross on a police badge. No other religionists have had a problem with this ever before. Why? Because those other religions have respect for other humans and their beliefs!

[Pookie Me]

He is seeking reinstatement and damages for emotional distress, attorneys fees and back pay.

The really important part of this lawsuit!

Pookie & Me

[American in Israel]

Read the Koran, what he worships tells him that someday he will be blessed to give you an offer you cannot refuese. Convert to Islam, or die at his hand.

I find it hard to trust someone who would choose to worship that. I am sure Jeffery Dhalmer was a "kind and gentile person" until you were under his power.

I live and work with thousands of them, Arabs are very kind and some of the nicest hosts in the world. Just don't pick up any food from your plate with your left hand when you are invited to dinner. The next goose that is cooked is you.

You can pick wild flowers in a mine-field, they always look peaceful and empty.

[Calculus_of_Consent]

The owners of any company should be able to choose who they want to hire and fire. The should be able to do so for what ever reason they see fit no matter how stupid it may seem to the rest of us. Why? Because it is their money.

[DWSUWF]

"...Looks like you had better become a self sustaining shut in as there are Muslims in every aspect of American culture and in every profession..."

By the looks of the banner on your homepage you're unfortunate enough to live under a regime where the moon-god worshippers had a seat at the table where the flag was designed.

I live in the Midwest, in the authentic center and heart of 'American Culture', and there are damn few moslems in my vicinity, which suits me just fine.

If I see one a month while out and about, that's a lot. You're probably thinking of some festering urban hell-hole, on one of our putrid seacoasts, when you imagine that all of 'American Culture' is uniformly riddled with ragheads.

"...Most of them are decent hard working peaceful people. (Although I hate to ruin two perfectly good stereotypes- both the one you have of Muslims and the one that you support of Conservatives by perpetuating this brain dead stupidity)..."

You've neither ruined a stereotype nor changed an opinion here.

I had little use for sand goblins before '911'. I've got none now.

And with regard to 'stupidity'...

We'll see, in the fullness of time, who are the 'stupid' ones.