Muslim Woman Sues For Employment Discrimination

Yesterday a Sacramento, California Muslim woman filed suit in state court charging National Credit Acceptance, Inc. with employment discrimination. The complaint in Southavilay v. National Credit Acceptance, Inc., (CA Super. Ct., filed July 8, 2008), alleges that Zaylanin Southavilay was told she could not continue working as a telephone debt collector with National Credit Acceptance if she continued to wear a hijab (Islamic headscarf). Southavilay sued under California law (California Government Code, Sec. 12940) claiming religious discrimination and failure to accommodate her religious belief. She also charged wrongful termination in violation of public policy. The Asian Law Caucus issued a release reporting on the filing of the lawsuit.