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Muslim women kicked out of California restaurant sue for discrimination

Seven Muslim girls who have been kicked out of a southern California restaurant are suing the commercial enterprise for discrimination, alleging that they had been singled out for wearing headscarves in a place that advocates say has seen a boom in hate crimes. The girls, six of whom had been carrying hijabs, say they had been ordered to leave Urth Caffe in Laguna seashore on 22 April, ostensibly due to the fact they were violating a coverage restricting seating to 45 minutes – even though video they took as they have been exiting indicates that there were open tables throughout the restaurant.

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The business, which is positioned close to the seashore in Orange County, changed into half-empty on time. Different non-Muslim women seated away longer than the Muslim ladies were now not requested to depart, in line with the lawsuit filed this week. After the women protested, the restaurant’s control boasts “natural coffees and high-quality teas,” allegedly known as its security shield. Sooner or later, nearby police pressure the ladies to go away. “I cried the whole way home,” Sara Farsakh, 29, said in an interview. “I used to be just so stunned and harm by using what occurred.”

Farsakh published a Facebook video displaying many empty tables, alongside footage of the police who confirmed to escort them out. “I’m absolutely appalled by the racist and Islamophobic treatment a few friends and that I have been subjected to by a group of workers at Urth Caffe in Laguna seaside remaining night time,” she wrote on Facebook after the incident. “What began as nighttime out with some buddies ended as a painful and embarrassing reminder of what it’s miles want to be visibly Muslim – even in liberal California. Through visibly Muslim, I imply girls who wear the hijab or scarf.”

The complaint, which seeks unspecified damages, states, “Urth Caffe’s elimination of Plaintiffs changed into encouraged now not by Plaintiffs’ violation of any corporation coverage, but by using its desire to cleanse the restaurant of visibly Muslim purchasers who have been goals of the latest neighborhood hate.” The restaurant has been the website of severa hate crimes in opposition to Muslims this 12 months, consistent with the grievance. In March and April, “locals unnerved using the increasing presence of Muslims in their network” threw eggs at Muslim clients at Urth Caffe, slashed their tires and yelled “racial name callings and epithets,” the in shape says.

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“That’s sincerely the key to why this is discrimination,” stated Mohammad Tajsar, legal professional for the ladies, who range from 25 to 29 years antique. “There’s a clean motivation at the part of the management to appease the discriminators and the racists who were essentially irritated and pissed off on the increasing presence of folks who regarded like they had been Muslim.”

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Laguna seaside is 90% white, in line with Census information. Although the eating place did not directly deal with the women’s faith, it becomes a blatant case of prejudice, stated Tajsar. “Discrimination in 2016 can be clear even though there isn’t an outward religious slur.” The eating place has no longer apologized for the incident and, as an alternative, defended its actions. In short, Facebook submitted: “Urth Caffe categorically denies any and all claims of racial or religious discrimination in opposition to Sara Farsakh. At the same time, as a full investigation is still ongoing, it appears that Ms. Farsakh and her pals violated organization policies and that the team of workers at Urth Caffe in Laguna properly and justifiably implemented organization strategies.”

The restaurant’s “busy time seating restriction” coverage, a copy of which Farsakh published on Facebook, says: “If tables are to be had, you are surely welcome to experience Urth for as long as your preference.” In its announcement, Urth stated it doesn’t condone discrimination and “really hopes that its clients will withhold judgment till all the evidence in this situation comes to mild”. The restaurant, a neighborhood chain with locations in southern California, did not reply to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Farsakh, a pupil, stated she was compelled to document a lawsuit in element because of the growing discrimination that Muslims have confronted within the wake of racist rhetoric in American politics. Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for president, is known for banning Muslims from coming into the united states in December. “With the modern political weather, this sort of stuff is increasing,” she said. “We felt so embarrassed and taken aback. You could’t trust it when it’s occurring to you.”

Farsakh, the one female within the organization who was no longer sporting a scarf, said she stopped carrying a hijab in element because of her fears approximately discrimination. “I shouldn’t be concerned approximately my mother, my mother-in-regulation, my buddies, and future daughters,” she stated. “It’s unacceptable for all of us to should go through this primarily based off of the way that they look.”

Elizabeth R. Cournoyer

Web enthusiast. Internet fanatic. Music geek. Gamer. Reader. Hipster-friendly coffee practitioner. Spent 2001-2007 merchandising human hair in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Spent 2001-2007 short selling tinker toys in Fort Walton Beach, FL. Spent 2001-2007 importing acne in Phoenix, AZ. Spent several months importing methane in Mexico. Spent the better part of the 90's creating marketing channels for wooden horses in Bethesda, MD. Lead a team implementing toy monkeys in Deltona, FL.

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