     Hilaac | Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 07:50 am
MUSLIM BEST BUY EMPLOYEE SEXUALLY HARASSED
(WASHINGTON, DC - 12/12/2000) - CAIR is calling on Muslims nationwide to contact Minnesota-based Best Buy Co., one of the nation's largest electronics retailers, after that company failed to resolve a case of sexual harassment against a female Muslim employee in Maryland. (Best Buy operates more than 350 retail stores in 39 states.)
According to that employee, who wears hijab, a supervisor repeatedly made sexually explicit comments, which she tried to ignore. On September 8, 2000, the worker says the supervisor approached her from behind in a state of sexual arousal and whispered, "This is (for) you, This is (for) you," while rubbing against her.
The next day the supervisor again approached the Muslim woman, grabbed her hand and attempted to pull her close to him. She resisted and told him to stop and indicated that she was a married woman. The supervisor allegedly said: "That is good, because I am married too, I won't have to worry about my wife finding out because we both would have a lot to lose." He did not stop the harassment until another worker intervened.
Following that incident, the woman asked for time off because she no longer felt comfortable in the store. She said other workers who heard about the incident were avoiding her. Company officials allowed her to take time off but said she would not be paid and that the negative co-worker reactions were a result of the employee "running her mouth" about the incident.
In two letters to Best Buy, CAIR demanded that the company:
Reprimand the supervisor for his actions. (The supervisor was subsequently terminated.)
Institute sensitivity training for Best Buy supervisors.
Offer the Muslim employee a formal apology.
Offer compensation for any humiliation and emotional distress that she has suffered as a result of the harassment.
A similar case resulted in a female employee of Wal-Mart in Missouri being awarded 50 million dollars by a jury that found she was subjected to a hostile work environment. CAIR has filed a complaint with the EEOC, a step necessary prior to any lawsuit.
CAIR Civil Rights Coordinator S. Eric Shakir wrote to Best Buy: "It is...clear that Best Buy felt comfortable discriminating against [the employee] as harshly as she was for three reasons: 1. She is Muslim, 2. She is African-American, and 3. She is a woman.
"Had the victim not been a member of the above groups, we are confident that Best Buy's response would have been more appropriate. Instead, Best Buy chose to pressure [the employee] in the hopes that she would "break," absolving Best Buy of the responsibility to do anything at all in the form of just compensation... This...is one of the most egregious cases of discrimination we have ever seen..."
EEOC guidelines define sexual harassment as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature." |
| MAD MAC | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 04:28 am
Hilaac
The Muslims woman status is irrelevant to this case. If the woman in question had been a Christian or a Bhudist it would have been the same thing. And, in fact, everywhere in the world you see this kind of behavior. Unless the companies management did anything to actively encourage such behavior I don't think there should be a lawsuit directed against the company, rather against the individual. These massive lawsuits have a negative effect on people looking for work. Companies that have limited capital either go under, or have a hard time expanding. I.E. people who never had anything to do with this event get penalized because of it - conceivably also other Muslim woman. |
| Salafi_man | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 05:22 am
Muslim women should be at home any way!
period!
That is why i will only consider marrying a Salafi!
period!
Shame on all innovators!
There is no reason woman with a husbad should have to leave home...
Don't come crying when the office gets too hot...
You ran from the heat of the kitchen.
Goodbye |
| jamiila | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 07:42 am
Hilaac.......forgive me for my ignorance.....but tell me.....what's your point???.......what are you basing this on ???????.......are you emplieng that the cause to this is the hijaab?????...... |
| Anonymous | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 09:45 am
Mad Cow disease
shut your f.u.c.k.i.n.g mouth a.s.s hole this is non of your business jackass |
| Anonymous | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 10:31 am
I agree with Mad Cow, leave him alone, looser.
Salafi-man.....has an inferiority complex! |
| Salafi_man | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 01:55 pm
Anonymous has no manhood!
How will you allow your wife to be around other men? aren't you suppose to be muslim? i think you will let her wear the trousers and you will wear the hijab huh? |
| Anonymous | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 02:13 pm
That's the whole point Salafi man,
I am a muslim, you're just a control freak,
How can I let my wife around others? She's not a puppet that I can lock up after I'm done with!
Your idea of what constitutes as Islamic is wrong.
Basically what you're saying is that that woman got what she deserved - sexual harrassment- because she dared to go out and make a living.
Did you know that the prophet's first wife owned her own business and that the prophet worked for her? Do you dare say something regarding her? Please don't confuse your ignorant beliefs with Islam! |
| In_Love_4_Ever | Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 02:26 pm
this is for da guy who posted this issue which is totally cut and paste and at the same time out of proportion and irrelevant to the title you have given your topic,,
Bro,refine your instinct and intellect. The case in issue is not about mulim women who are harrassed. By the way, what is harrasment and how do you define it? Dont attempt to explain it by posting another topic which is out of the domain.
I was expecting some thing that goes beyond what you have posted, namely why are women harrased?
Men are also harrassed bro in many ways that are similar to that of the feamle harrasment. Nevertheless it wouldnt have to be misconstrued as muslim men are harrassed or vice versa.
I hope you look deeper before you post other messages. A well-informed, well argued and well-presented argument is always agreeable and welcome.. |
| jamiila | Monday, February 12, 2001 - 05:35 am
Salafi-man......pls...before you start talking and sharing your viwes with us...pls do keep apart culture and religion.....if you do that then we have something to discusse...before you question others faith ("aren't you suppose to be muslim" .....make sure that yours is 100%.......... |
| Faaiasa | Monday, February 12, 2001 - 08:53 am
Assalamu alaicum warahmatulaahi wabarakatuhu my brothers and sisters in Islam, how are you?
I agree with the two above poeple Madmac and In love_for ever. The title is not so right.
harrasment can happen to any women no matter her religion. And in fact nowadays there are men who are harresed by their female bosses.
I agree Salafi_man that women's place should be home and that is proper hijab but there are needs nowadays and there are many women who are not married, what would they do?
I think Slafi_man is mixing up culture and religion and to say that he is a control freak is baseless. but he must not understate the present situation. I am gonna start a job soon and I would keep my hijab but would think differently when I got married and have kids.
wasalm
yours sister in Islam |
| Faaisa | Monday, February 12, 2001 - 08:55 am
Corrections; I do not think Salafiman is mixing up culture and religion |
| jamiila | Tuesday, February 13, 2001 - 09:23 am
so what are you saying sis??.....I didn't say anything about him being a controle freak....but sis he is mixing culture with realigion....yes the woman is orderd to stay at home....but there's nothing keeping her away from working.....as long as she is dressed properly......and she can still continue woriking when she gets married........sis tell me?........why study if we know that.....we would stop working when we get married?????......
If I've been very fast with drawing a conclusion....do correct me sis......... |
| Wahabi_girl | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 - 12:39 am
We study so we are aware of the world and we can educate our children! Our primary duty is the happyness of our men. The well being of our children! In return our husbands should give us the respect and love we deserve! We ar all forgetting our role in life! common ppl there is more to making uncle Clinton the perv happy and richer! What ever we do, it just conriputes to the evil regimes that we live in! all that are important are families! we all will be judged first for how well we performed our duties in the family!
There is no depate here, just differnce of opinion! all these opinions are just disturbing our minds! it all comes down to our guides in the here and now! Wahabism is one of these guides which help you find your true place in these crupted evil world! Wahabism is the only true way of life and they will inshallah be the choosen ones to enter heaven!
choice is yours.//// Heaven\\//// Hell\\???
choose? |
| MAD MAC | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 - 04:36 am
Faaisa
You say, and I quote, "there are needs nowadays..." In fact, there have always been needs. There has never been a historical time when the bulk of woman were home cooking and cleaning and that was it. It very prosperous societies they have had the ability to do this more. In less prosperous societies less so. As was already pointed out, the Prophets first wife was not only working, she ran her own business. Since he allowed it, it must be OK. Hence we can conclude from the Prophets example that woman working is OK. |
| Faaisa | Wednesday, February 14, 2001 - 08:41 am
Assalamu alicum warahmatu lahu wabarkatuhu
dear borhers and siters how are you?
MadMAc,
You are absolutly right. Women's participation were always needed and they are part of the sociaty. And Islam gave us this freedom.
I was responding to Brother Salafi who says that muslim women should stay at home. And I am saying yes it is better for them not to mixed with men, especially in a non-muslim invironment. But whenI have to work then I have no choice.
But, if a woman is married she should take care for her kids they are most important than job. Because what we see nowadays is that women neglegting their children while chasing career.
wasalaam |
| MAD MAC | Thursday, February 15, 2001 - 01:12 am
Faaisa
I have a question for you. I was visiting a friend of mine. He's VERY MUCH a Muslim, but we are good friends, served together in Somalia (He worked as a translator, me as a soldier). When I was visiting him I stayed in his guest room. He went to work and I was left at home with his wife alone. Of course I would NEVER, in a million years, hit on my friends wife. But my point is, is this un-Islamic. When a Muslim man visits a friend is he allowed to stay in the house after the man leaves for work??? |
| In_Love_4_Ever | Thursday, February 15, 2001 - 06:46 am
madmac
Is she just a hittable wife?
That is your assumption bro. Even if your friend left you in the home with his wife, he knows he has an absolute confident in her. Do you think women are somekind of broochies who can be laid don when their husband leaves them.
You owe the sisters an oppology Mad mac.
Your rhetoric is very explicit.
Anyway, madmac, were you to venture to lay her down, i guess it could have been one of the most unforgettable nightmares in your life, as i fel sure, women who are married arent that easy to lay, specially when you are considered part of the family circle. |
| Witness | Thursday, February 15, 2001 - 06:50 am
obviously In_love_4_ever has tried it because you can only make comments like his from experience!
shame huh? which part the memory? or the rejection?
Pervert! |
| Faaisa | Friday, February 16, 2001 - 06:47 am
MadMac,
( I do not visit Somalinet that often so I did not see your question)
Okey, I am a muslim so I will answer your question according to the Islamic beleifs and philosophy. Islam is a religion of broader spectrum than is the case with other religions. It provides a complete and comprehensive code for the conduct of humanlife from cradle to grave. It provides in all social, moral and spiritual aspects of life. This guidance is based on Allah's Wisdom which came to us through Allah's massenger. God communicated knowledge and wisdom to them by means of revelation. So, a muslim should follow the example of the prophet mohamd pbuh.
Now ( your question) I think there is a hadith ( I will check the exact words Insha Allah)that says unrelated man and woman should not be left alone( in private place). This is to avoid any attraction between the two which is a human nature.
I understand your point but we have to remember that everyone does not break the law but there always some who does.
To me it is Allah's Wisdom that everything can happen therefore we should be careful. This also protects the poepl's dignity and honor from any suspicions.
Hope that answers your question. You are not a muslim , is that true? |
| Sister | Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 07:25 am
Faaisa,
sis, Madmac is american and not a Muslim. |
| Hibo | Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 07:46 am
I think it has always been a matter of choice for woman to work...outside the house. Some friends of mine.. find me very liberal in a sense that I tend to forget my religion & culture...though i feel contrary to that..anyways.. here is what I think.. ..If u & ur husband find it acceptable....n u r dressed properly... then there is nothing that will stop u from...working.. by u i mean women. Certainly God had set some basic principles that govern the types of work that a woman is allowed to perform....these exclude physical labor...that is the only kind of job a woman is not allowed to do.....other than that it is masmuux...to my knowledge...but than I could be wrong.....
Faiisa: Its not only unrelated men & women sis... its any man & woman...to whom marriage is eligible... by that i mean... who can marry... we all r related to our cousins.. n second degree uncles....yet its allowed to marry them..! Sorry if u feel.....I am intruding...but i felt compelled to say it the way it was! |
| Faaisa | Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 09:05 am
I could not find the page and thinking where did I write.
Hibo,
That is right. Excuse from my expressions. I could not get the hadiths, so I wrote what came into my mind.
Unrelated man and woman, I meant two poeple who cannot marry each other.
Who is MadMac? Hibo. Is true what the sister is saying?
Faaisa |
| Msis | Saturday, February 17, 2001 - 09:38 am
Muslim womens Voice!
You look at me and call me oppressed,
Simply because of the way I'm dressed,
You know me not for what's inside,
You judge the clothing I wear with pride,
My body's not for your eyes to hold,
You must speak to my mind, not my feminine mold,
I'm an individual, I'm no mans slave,
It's Allahs pleasure that I only crave,
I have a voice so I will be heard,
For in my heart I carry His word,
"O ye women, wrap close your cloak,
So you won't be bothered by ignorant folk",
Man doesn't tell me to dress this way,
It's a Law from God that I obey,
Oppressed is something I'm truly NOT,
For liberation is what I've got,
It was given to me many years ago,
With the right to prosper, the right to grow,
I can climb moutains or cross the seas,
Expand my mind in all degrees,
For God Himself gave us LIB-ER-TY,
When He sent Islam,
To You and Me!
That is the how we FeeeeeeeeeeeeeeL! |
| MAD MAC | Sunday, February 18, 2001 - 11:32 pm
In love 4 ever
You're missing my point. I'm not saying the women would go one way or the other (in fact I doubt seriously she would ever cheat, she was a good woman). I'm asking a question based on circumstance, not on the charecter of the woman involved.
FAISA
It is true what sister is saying. I am an American soldier who served in Somalia in 92, 93 and 94. Thanks for your response. I have read the Qur'an but not all of the Hadith. And I suspected your answer was the right one. A mutual Somali friend told me that I should considered myself honored that the man in question left me alone with his wife, because as a devout Muslim he would only do that with absolute trust (knowing the intent of the Hadith). Which I have to admit makes me feel pretty good, knowing that a guy like that would trust a kufaar. |
