Islamophobic discrimination
Stories, quotes & experiences
Social systems
Muslims are being excluded, discriminated against or failed at all stages of their transition from education to employment. Taken together, these contributory factors have profound implications for social mobility. Research highlights routine examples of Muslim men and women failing to secure jobs that were commensurate with their skills, experience and qualifications.
Jacqueline Stevenson, Sheffield Hallam University
Mumbai-based Zeeshan Khan applied for a job at the jewellery firm, Hari Krishna Exports, but failed to get an interview. The firm said in an email reply to him, “We regret to inform you that we only hire non-Muslim candidates.
In 2015, Abercrombie & Fitch, refused to hire a Muslim woman because she wore a headscarf. The company said it clashed with its dress code. Justice Antonin Scalia stated, “the company’s decision not to hire her was motivated by a desire to avoid accommodating her religious practice”. That was enough, to allow her to sue under federal employment discrimination law.
Adam Liptak, New York Times, 2015
When Duha Dallah walked into Dillard’s for an interview, she was offered the job but was told she wouldn’t be allowed to wear her headscarf while working. “Everything went fine, We agreed on pay.” When she went in the next day, she was told by her manager, “By the way, the scarf won’t be allowed on the sales floor.”
Security systems
“I have to go an extra hour earlier than anybody else, it’s definitely not random.”
An American and a Muslim, Ms. Syed wears a hijab, or head covering. More often than not, she is pulled aside at security check-in for secondary screenings and pat-downs, the examiner feeling her head through the hijab. Ms. Syed, along with many of her American Muslim friends and Islamic-rights advocates, is all too familiar with what many refer to as the stigma of traveling while Muslim.
Michael T. Luongo, New York Times, 2016
One Briton, Omer, has been stopped 40 times when returning to the UK since 2005 but has never been convicted of any offence. Omer said: “I get stopped 95% of the time, coming back from Belgium, France and Italy.” He said he had become so fed up with being repeatedly questioned he often used one-word answers to reply.
A former medical professional, Omer was stopped at Heathrow returning from Lahore, Pakistan, after a flight in which he had helped a teenager having a fit. But on leaving the plane he was nevertheless questioned. “This is a law that is almost impossible to beat.”
Political systems
I feel entitled to expect women to remove face coverings when talking to me. Schools and universities should be able to take the same approach if a student turns up looking like a bank robber. It is absolutely ridiculous that people should choose to go around looking like letter boxes.
United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, 2018
We have a problem in this country, it’s called Muslims. Muslims represent an extraordinary influx of hatred and danger coming into our country. We must be vigilant, and we have to stop radical Islamic terrorism!
United States President, Donald Trump, 2016
Islam is a religion in crisis. The battle against Islamic terrorism is not over. Islamic separatism is problematic. The problem is [that it is] an ideology that claims its own laws should be superior to those of the republic.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, 2021