Anti-Islam Rhetoric

American Muslim Settles Religious Discrimination Case with Hospital

The Southern Hills Medical Center is paying a former employee $70,000 to settle a lawsuit. The suit was filed because the hospital refused to give the employee time off to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. The hospital is admitting no wrong doing in connection to the case.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit on behalf of Wali Telwar in 2007. He is a Muslim and a former medical technician for the hospital. The hospital refused to let Telwar use 20 days of accumulated vacation time to make the trip. Muslims are required to make a hajj, or pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian birthplace of Islam and its prophet, once in their lives.

Telwar had worked at the hospital for three years and was told that if he went on the hajj he would have to quit and be rehired when he returned. He resigned and was not rehired upon return. The hospital instead hired three other technicians.

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© 2009 American Muslim Observer.