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Suit Charges Military Contractor With Refusing To Accommodate Wearing of Hijab

By Howard M. Friedman

In Houston (TX), a federal lawsuit charging religious discrimination has been filed against K.B.R., Inc. (the former Kellogg Brown & Root). The company is particularly known for its extensive work in Iraq under contracts with the military. The complaint (full text) in Tounkara v. K.B.R., Inc. (SD TX, filed 7/13/2009), alleges that K.B.R. violated Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by "failing to make a reasonable, religious accommodation to allow the plaintiff to wear her hijab (headscarf) in observance of her Muslim faith during her hours of employment." According to a sharply critical report by the Houston Press, Karen Tounkara, a Muslim, was hired by K.B.R. through a nursing agency to help prep its workers who were going to Iraq. K.B.R. informed Tounkara it had a policy that no employee can wear a head covering at work. It told her that she could wear her headscarf up to the company's gates, and could put it back on when she left.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on July 16, 2009 (boomark / email).