Muslim employee at Canada airport fights dress code

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OTTAWA (AFP) — A Muslim woman suspended from her job as a screener at Canada's largest airport for wearing a skirt deemed too long by her employer has filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, her lawyer told AFP Tuesday.

Attorney Jo-Anne Pickel said the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and Garda, the security company that employed her client, Halima Muse, discriminated against her on the basis of her religion.

Muse, 33, had been employed as a screener at Pearson International Airport in Toronto for five years. Prior to February 2007, she wore a standard uniform with pants and a long jacket issued by the company.

"However, she never felt comfortable wearing the pants as she felt that they were not modest enough and showed the shape of her body," Pickel said, so Muse asked Garda for a longer skirt than is normally issued.

"She is a devout Muslim and wanted to wear a longer skirt with her uniform," Pickel explained.

When she was told none was available, Muse made one herself that was identical in color and fabric to the issued skirt except that it was hemmed a few inches above her ankles rather than a few inches below her knees.

Six months later, Muse was disciplined for being out of uniform, then was asked to return her identification badge and was sent home, said Pickel.

Tuesday afternoon, Garda "said they were willing to accommodate her and let her wear the longer skirt, but they said the uniform policy is set by CATSA," Pickel told AFP.

Talks between CATSA and the Teamsters union representing Muse are scheduled for later in the day, she added.

-- AFP