Woman wins right to Mecca trip

[Meesna]

A Muslim woman has won her fight against a west suburban school district after being denied unpaid leave to go on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca.

The U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday announced it settled Safoorah Khan’s religious discrimination lawsuit against the Berkeley School District, forcing the district to pay $75,000 in lost back pay, compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees.

The district also will have to develop a policy accommodating religions consistent with the Civil Rights Acts to ensure something similar will not happen again.

Khan, a teacher at MacArthur Middle School, requested an unpaid leave of absence in December 2008 to perform hajj — a pilgrimage required by Islam — but was told she had to choose between her job and her religious beliefs. She resigned.

“I’m glad that we settled and I hope this does set a precedent,” Khan said. “I hope they realize that hajj means a lot to Muslims and there will be more and more people taking the trip. I hope this helps people and their employers to accommodate Muslims and their requests.”

According to the settlement, the district must also provide mandatory training on religious accommodations to all board of education members and school supervisors.

Khan, now 30, says she went to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the year she resigned.

“It’s required once in our lifetime at the earliest opportunity you can get,” she said.

Woman wins right to Mecca trip

 

[Tshering22]

And then you complain about West's laws. It was their law system that made her win. If they were as close-minded and authoritarian as most Pakistanis (living themselves in the west) claim, then she'd never have been even discussed about.

 

[Meesna]

I think western laws are largely good; it’s what some western governments appear to be doing in international geopolitics that infuriates people.

 

[Uchiha]

What district was this?
is 75k a bit much? This is going to affect the students

 

[somebozo]

A trip to court needed in order to accommodate a religious trip..bad law..very bad law....a good law is something which already accommodates these things without the needed hassle of going to court. In Saudi Arabia, Christians can get a paid one week leave for Christmas!

 

[EastWest]

This is what makes USA the role model !! USA may have $hittiest foreign policy and also may have their share of right wing nationalists,...But no one can deny their fight for trying to be a model to humanity and democracy

So any of the so called anti-USA posters say the same thing about their country ?

 

[somebozo]

This is what makes USA the role model !! USA may have $hittiest foreign policy and also may have their share of right wing nationalists,...But no one can deny their fight for trying to be a model to humanity and democracy

So any of the so called anti-USA posters say the same thing about their country ?

Next time USA should bring some "humanity" to India with the help of Tom Hawks, Apaches and JSF-35-II. It is surprising how shallow Indians are willing to stoop to kiss the american tale and believe their day dream of "world largest democracy" just because an american president certified it to.

 

[untitled]

And then you complain about West's laws.

Their laws are fine .... its their attitudes towards Muslims that need a major overhaul (esp the ones ruling the roost)

 

[EastWest]

Next time USA should bring some "humanity" to India with the help of Tom Hawks, Apaches and JSF-35-II. It is surprising how shallow Indians are willing to stoop to kiss the american tale and believe their day dream of "world largest democracy" just because an american president certified it to.

Can a non- muslim get a justice in muslim countries?

Show me one model judgement in ur country in favor of a non-muslim.
Non- muslims in ur country are repeatedly killed for any purpose with out fear of any police/judicial intervention.

A Muslim in USA can go to court in US and fight for justice and might even win when there is discrimination against him/her by the police or politicians.

plz dont give me the cr@p that we believe everything what US says or does.
They have their share of faults.But no one can deny their society is far more benign and humane than our societies(yes! India included)

 

[JayAtl]

Their laws are fine .... its their attitudes towards Muslims that need a major overhaul (esp the ones ruling the roost)

surely you did not open the pandora's box about religious freedoms...

Come to US stand on box in the middle of central park and curse Jesus
Come to US stand on a box in the middle of central park and procalim how shari law should be US law...

and watch nothing happens...

Now tell us if a Jew, Hindu or christain did the same in your country-- how many seconds before he would be beheaded without even seeing a court room. A court room in your country that would have him/her hanged, shot or head chopped off?