CAIR-Washington State

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

Abdulkadir Omar, 22, filed his federal lawsuit July 15 in Seattle against Sacramento-based American Patriot Security, seeking back pay and unspecified damages for emotional pain and loss of enjoyment of life, among other reasons.

"Growing up in this country, where the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of religion, I was let down," Omar said Thursday at a press conference.

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.

​As a Muslim, Sea-Tac resident Abdulkadir Omar wears a beard for religious reasons. The security firm that hired him in the spring of 2009--a California-based outfit that broadcasts its conservative leanings with the name American Patriot Security--didn't seem to have a problem with that. But then it did, as Omar plans to tell reporters today at a press conference organized by the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

According to a suit he filed last month in the U.S. District Court for Western Washington, American Patriot informed Omar after about five months of work as a security guard that his beard violated the firm's "grooming policy."

CAIR-WA Outreach Coordinator, Abigail Stahl, is graduating CAIR-WA.  Her last day with the organization was, Friday, July 29th when she finished her AmeriCorps JustServe term.  Abigail is pursuing work in the area of internationally focused non-profits, and also considering pursuing a Master’s degree in International Relations.

Abigail joined CAIR-WA in September, 2010 as an outreach coordinator through the AmeriCorps JustServe program.  To view her full bio, please see: www.cairseattle.org/our-staff

The CAIR-WA office has been busy recently,thanks to our wonderful summer interns. This summer we have the privilege of hosting interns representing four different universities across the state of Washington.

We are still seeking applicants for the Civil Rights/Case IntakeInternship. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis. Applications are evaluated as they are received and qualified candidates are then contacted; there is no particular deadline. All applicants are evaluated strictly on the basis of merit, but Muslims are strongly encouraged to apply.

Visit our Internships page for more information including a detailed listing of open positions: http://www.cairseattle.org/intern-center

Watch Part 1 of the series here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJN00dBhZVk
Watch Part 2 of the series here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Tzz51VYXg