Muslim flight attendant suspended for refusing to serve alcohol
A Muslim flight attendant says she has been suspended by American airline ExpressJet for refusing to serve alcoholic drinks in accordance with her beliefs.
Charee Stanley, 40, who has been an employee at the airline for three years, was suspended in August after another colleague filed a complaint against her, claiming she was not fulfilling her duties by refusing to serve alcohol.
Stanley converted to Islam a year ago and just found out that her religion prohibits her from not only drinking alcohol but serving it, too, according to Lena Masri, an attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Michigan.
The complaint also said Stanley had a book with "foreign writings" and wore a headdress.
Last week, Stanley filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to get her job back.
“I don’t think that I should have to choose between practicing my religion properly or earning a living,” she said.
"What this case comes down to is no one should have to choose between their career and religion and it's incumbent upon employers to provide a safe environment where employees can feel they can practice their religion freely," Masri said.
"They placed her on unpaid leave and they advised her that her employment may be terminated after 12 months," Masri said.
"We are requesting that her employment be reinstated and the accommodation of her religious beliefs be reinstated as well."
Stanley wants to do her job without serving alcohol as she used to do it before, her lawyer said.
"It was at the direction of the airlines that she began coordinating with the other flight attendant on duty so that when a passenger requested alcohol, the other flight attendant would accommodate that request," Masri said.
"We know that this arrangement has worked beautifully and without incident and that it hasn't caused any undue burden on the airline. After all, it was the suggestion of the airline," she added.
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