Woman says Abercrombie fired her over headscarf

Created on Wednesday, 03 March 2010 11:07 Last Updated on Monday, 03 December 2012 19:20 Published on Wednesday, 03 March 2010 11:07 Written by Associated Press Hits: 1118

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—A Muslim employee of Abercrombie & Fitch Co. alleges she was fired for not removing her headscarf.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations said Wednesday it filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint on behalf of Hani Khan.

Khan had worked for the store’s outlet in San Mateo, Calif. A call to the New Albany, Ohio-based company was not immediately returned.

Khan says she was initially told she could wear a hijab, or headscarf, but a visiting district manager said scarves were not allowed during work hours. Khan said she was fired when she refused to take it off.

A 2009 suit filed in Oklahoma against Abercombie alleged that a Tulsa store refused to hire a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf.

That lawsuit is pending.