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Imane Boudlal Sues Disneyland Over Headscarf Controversy
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by Amy Judd | August 20, 2010 at 08:04 am
850 views | 4 Recommendations | 10 comments
Imane Boudlal is Now Suing Disneyland After She Was Asked to Remove Her Headscarf
The Muslim woman is now accusing the world-famous theme park for discrimination as she was reportedly told she could not serve customers at Disneyland's Grand California Hotel if she was wearing her headscarf.
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According to the Telegraph, Ms. Boudlal, who has worked there for a few years, asked her employers if she could wear her headscarf while she was a hostess at the hotel but she she claims she received no reply. She decided to wear it anyway as it was the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, although she had reportedly not worn it before to work.
Leigh Shelton, a spokesman for the Unite Here Local 11 union said:
“Disney told Boudlal that if she wanted to work as a hostess she had to remove her hijab because it did not comply with the 'Disney Look,’” the spokesman said.
Ms. Boudlal says she was offered a hat 'or something' but she did not want to wear that, she wanted to wear her hijab. Mr. Shelton says they went on to tell Ms. Boudlal that if she did not remove her hijab she could either take a back-of-house position or go home.
She has now decided to sue the company and has brought her case before the US Equal Opportunity Commission; she says their choice of putting her in a back-of-house position was 'humiliating'.
Disney spokeswoman Suzi Brown says that Ms. Boudlal was never denied the opportunity to work and they only offered her a back-of-house position as a temporary measure while something could be worked out, but a local branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said:
“There is no justification for Disney’s refusal to allow Ms Boudlal to wear her headscarf at work,” said Ameena Mirza Qazi, deputy executive director and staff attorney at the group.
“To say that her headscarf would somehow impact guests is not only insulting to her, but is deeply offensive to the thousands of Muslims who open up their pocketbooks at Disney parks and resorts every year.”
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Amy Judd
Vancouver, Canada
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Barry ORegan
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
anarkissed
Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Canada
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 08:11 on August 20th, 2010
While I don't agree with the sentiments behind the hijab, I don't see why we have to be so intolerant. Women have worn scarves forever and many a photo around shows Jackie Kennedy swaddled about with fabric as concealing as these women's hijabs, and only for reasons of fashion! Hollywood stars often wrap themselves up in fancy fabrics. The reason for this discrimination is clearly religious and cultural, not about whether she looks the part of a disney employee! They wouldn't have hired her at all if there was a "look" because Walt Disney was so racist he'd never have hired a person with dark skin.
Americans have equated "muslim" with "terrorist" and as per their usual hunt and destroy methods of cultural obliteration, they're going after muslims like farmers hunt ground squirrels.
Good luck to all you peace loving muslims. I think your faith sucks, but I also think you have a right to peaceful enjoyment of it, and the respect and dignity we all expect.
at 12:56 on August 23rd, 2010
As an Ex_cast member of several years service from Disney, and of dark skin as you put it. When she was hired you go thru your first 1/2 day of orientation going over the Disney look. You are a cast member in a theater, so required to wear and look a certain way. this woman after 2 years decides to change her costume that has been selected to create an illusion for the part she is playing.. she was not fired for changing it, but was offered another postion as the cast out of public view,. If she wants to wear her 'hijab' out in public, all she needs to do is transfer to Walt Disney World (Florida) request to work for Epcot, at Morocco.... there the cast members wear the 'hijab' as it is part of the costume. Problem solved. I for one support the methods of what Disney is doing. if they didn't set guidelines for the Disney look. would you like to meet Aladin and have him covered in tattoos wearing nose rings? Mickey getting warm, and just ripping off his head for a breath of fresh air right in front of your child... these rules are in place to give a magic to the place, for us to relive the cartoon most of us grew up with ... Thank you for listening to my rant A Friend Of "Goofy" Walter H.
at 15:01 on August 20th, 2010
Imagine if their religion insisted men wear codpieces and hats made of large pieces of fruit like Carmen Miranda, wow wouldn't that be a kick in the slats. As Chief Wiggum once said,Where is your Messiah now, See!
at 21:33 on August 22nd, 2010
I think wearing hijab is a part of humans rights. Yet surely we have to concern with the dominant culture where we're living in. While we fight discrimination (long term), muslim have to show that they are not terrorist, and islam is not the as terrorism, by being friendly and not offensive. Islam consists of many groups with different perspective on Quran. We will see intolerant Muslim in IRAQ Afghanistan, IRAN but we will meet a very tolerant, pluralistic society in Java, Indonesia.
at 13:02 on August 23rd, 2010
As an Ex_cast member of several years service from Disney, and of Dark skin like stated previously, When she was hired you go thru your first 1/2 day of orientation going over the Disney look. You are a cast member in a theater, so required to wear and look a certain way. this woman after 2 years decides to change her costume that has been selected to create an illusion for the part she is playing.. she was not fired for changing it, but was offered another postion as the cast out of public view,. If she wants to wear her 'hijab' out in public, all she needs to do is transfer to Walt Disney World (Florida) request to work for Epcot, at Morocco.... there the cast members wear the 'hijab' as it is part of the costume. Problem solved. I for one support the methods of what Disney is doing. if they didn't set guidelines for the Disney look. would you like to meet Aladin and have him covered in tattoos wearing nose rings? Mickey getting warm, and just ripping off his head for a breath of fresh air right in front of your child... these rules are in place to give a magic to the place, for us to relive the cartoon most of us grew up with ... Thank you for listening to my rant A Friend Of "Goofy" Walter H.
at 17:37 on August 23rd, 2010
Go Ferkk a camel dippy...
at 14:19 on August 26th, 2010
She is the one who in intolerant. This is not about her rights, this is about MONEY and pushing her agenda onto the American people.She only complains after 3 years? What Ramadan did not happen the tow previous years?She is supposed to be in COSTUME!!Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were NOT MUSLIM!!!!!
at 14:22 on August 26th, 2010
She can where her head scarf...just not in costume where she was TOLD DURING HER ORIENTATION she could NOT! She i the intolerant one!!!Employers do not have to bow to your every whim.SHE IS CLEARLY A MUSLIM PLANT!! No one could be that stupid!
at 11:21 on August 29th, 2010
I was watching once the history channel about the immigrants coming from Europe( Italy, Romania, Greece, etc) ; in the NY port descended off the big ships white women wearing headscarves. I asked myself, wait a second , this documentary is about the immigrants who are US ancestors back in the 1900's. Why do they wear headscarves and most americans now are descriminating women who wear scarves. Philosophically, I realized women christians from the old world back in the days wore the headscarves. what is going now? Is the imperialism system of US changing poeple and making them slaves to respond to a system away from true freedom. Again my point is , US system is disrespectful for woman, big time. I explain in case you don't get it. Coors lights , cheer leaders, Nascars , cars , do promote their advirtizing clips or images with Hot women almost naked. This definitly gives the woman as a symbol of sex. What a shame, usa is full of ignorants and perverts. Women should be respected. but i know my message won't do nothing because of the rate of ignorance in this country that is why jobs are exported to India, Malysia etc. because most americans are lazy , ignorants , etc.... that is the truth and the truths ( nobody likes it) see for yourselves. Viva Liberte.
at 11:26 on August 29th, 2010
this message for eddie, if the 1 billion and 250 million of muslims were terrorists, do you think you can handle it? terrorism is not a nationality or a faith. tewrrorism is an act of mass murder, crimes, aggression and so on. do you believe these aspects are not present in any race or religion, if you answer no, i will be back to enlighten you more of history.