11th Circuit: Muslim's Employment Discrimination Claim Not Supported

In MackMuhammad v. Cagle's Inc., (11th Cir., May 12, 2010), the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the dismissal of a religious discrimination in employment and hostile work environment suit brought by a Muslim man who was rejected for a superintendent's position at a poultry plant. The court said plaintiff had not demonstrated he was qualified for the position, or that similarly situated non-Muslim employees were treated more favorably. It also rejected his claim that references to him in the workplace as "Bin Laden" and jokes about his refusal to eat pork amounted to a hostile work environment. Finally, it dismissed his state law intentional infliction of emotional distress claim.