SEATTLE -- A Seattle-area Muslim is suing his former employer, claiming he was fired as a security guard for refusing to shave his beard, which he wears for religious reasons.

Abdulkadir Omar filed his federal lawsuit July 15 in Seattle. He spoke publicly about it Thursday along with representatives from the Seattle chapter of the Council for American-Islamic Relations. Omar, however, did not want his face shown in entirety.

Omar says that in November 2009, a supervisor at American Patriot Security told him he had to shave his beard. Omar responded that his beard is part of his religious beliefs and refused. He was suspended the following spring.

Omar filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which found that Omar was wrongfully terminated.

A representative from American Patriot Security declined to answer a media call.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44021912/ns/local_news-yakima_wa/#.TjsImVsUt_A