By Religion News Service and BJC Staff Reports
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Oct. 2 that it will hear a religious discrimination case involving a clothing retailer.
The suit was filed by a Muslim who claimed she was not hired by Abercrombie & Fitch because of her black headscarf. The Ohio-based company won the case in the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, claiming it did not discriminate because the job applicant did not specifically say she needed a religious accommodation. The woman was wearing her hijab in the interview.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission petitioned the Supreme Court for a review, saying the law does not place the burden solely on the job applicant to give explicit notice about his or her religious practice.
The Baptist Joint Committee joined a group of religious and civil liberties organizations – including the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, National Association of Evangelicals, Christian Legal Society and American Civil Liberties Union Foundation – in supporting the plaintiff in the 10th Circuit.
The case is Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc. It is expected to be heard in early 2015.
From the October 2014 Report From the Capital.Click here to read the next article.
