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CAIR-PA: Muslim Whole Foods Worker Forced to Pray by Dumpster, Fired
Former employee to speak out about being harassed then terminated from employment by supervisors due to his Islamic faith

(PHILADELPHIA, PA, 11/7/11) -- On Tuesday, November 8, the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) will hold a news conference to seek reinstatement of a former Whole Foods Market employee who allegedly experienced pervasive harassment by his supervisors and faced subsequent unlawful termination.

CAIR-Philadelphia will also call for other forms of redress and compensation for the fired Muslim employee.

WHAT: CAIR News Conference with Fired Muslim Whole Foods Market Employee
WHEN: Tuesday, November 8, 1 p.m. (Eastern)
WHERE: Corner of 21st and Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia, PA (Across from back of the Whole Foods store.)
RAIN LOCATION: 1218 Chestnut Street, Suite 510, Philadelphia, PA
CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Civil Rights Director, Amara Chaudhry, 215-592-0509, 484-686-2353 Email: achaudhry@cair.com; CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director, Moein Khawaja, 215-592-0509, 217-638-7873 Email: mkhawaja@cair.com

The former employee at Whole Foods Market (2001 Pennsylvania Avenue, Philadelphia, PA) was allegedly subject to pervasive harassment and retaliation once his supervisors found out about his Islamic faith.

At one point, he was reportedly forced to pray by a trash dumpster after supervisors prevented him from performing prayers indoors in a storage room. Moreover, he was allegedly unfairly terminated on his return from Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to the holy cityof Mecca.

"When you go to work for the first national supermarket chain to have a Ramadan promotion featuring halal foods, you don't expect to be subjected to discrimination or terminated because you practice the Muslim faith," said CAIR-Philadelphia Civil Rights Director Amara Chaudhry. "We hope that a company eager to take the money of Muslim shoppers would also be similarly welcoming of Muslim employees."

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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