A former Disneyland employee is getting the ACLU on her side as she gets ready to file a major lawsuit against the Walt Disney Corporation. Hijab is a religious veil that many Muslim women wear on their heads. The head scarf is worn an essential element of virtue and modesty, which is stated in the lawsuit.
Imane Boudlal worked as a hostess at a cafe for two years inside the Grand Californian Hotel, which is owned by Disney. She claims in her suit that she complained to management both verbally and in writing about being harassed and about being a Muslim from Morocco, but they did nothing about it. She claims things got much worse in 2010 when she decided to wear her Hijab all the time. She claims Disney denied her request for religious accommodation, telling her she could work out of sight in the rear of the restaurant or to wear a costume hat on top of her religious vail to cover it up. When she refused, she said she was fired.
She noted in her lawsuit that other employees were allowed to wear religious crosses, tattoos and other types of items.
In a news conference Monday morning, Boudlal described the kind of verbal harassment and said, "I complained to my manager so many times. I was called a camel, a terrorist, someone that speaks a terrorist language." "I was advised to just stop complaining and showing up to their office."
The lawsuit is asking for monetary damages for Boudlal, but it is also asking for Disney to change their policies on religious accommodations for Muslims and others who want to wear some of their religious items to work.
FOX 11 spoke to Disneyland earlier, and they said they are in the process of working on a reply to the lawsuit.
FOX 11 Legal Analyst Robin Sax also commented on this lawsuit, which can be looked at in two different issues: whether the uniform is a violation of Disney's policy, and the harassment in the workplace.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 1:15 PM EDT2013-05-21 17:15:24 GMT
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers. Edwin Vargas was arrested Tuesday outside his home in Bronxville.
An NYPD detective is accused of hacking into department computers and obtaining information about dozens of people including co-workers.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 12:39 PM EDT2013-05-21 16:39:13 GMT
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven.
The MTA says limited service will resume this afternoon on Metro-North and Amtrak trains between New York and New Haven. Beginning with the 3:07 p.m. departure from Grand Central Terminal, Metro-North will operate about half of the regular eastbound PM peak service and regular hourly westbound service with the 4:23 PM train from New Haven. Repair work on tracks that were damaged in last week's train collision has progressed quickly, says the MTA.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:33 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:33:20 GMT
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
A New Jersey priest who resigned after admitting he worked unsupervised with kids despite a legal agreement that barred him from doing so is headed to court.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:23 AM EDT2013-05-21 11:23:53 GMT
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
The New York jury on which Caroline Kennedy served has acquitted a man of dealing crack cocaine. Kennedy was juror No. 7 at the trial of Harlem resident Nelson Chatman.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:51 AM EDT2013-05-21 10:51:26 GMT
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company.
The Metropolitan Opera says it's decided to disband its resident ballet company. The American Guild of Musical Artists said the eight remaining dancers of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet have accepted buyout packages.
