Muslim is asked to get out of bank line

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I've heard this before, but someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Whenever a U.S. citizen visits a predominantly Muslim country, isn't it true that we have to respect the rules over there, even if we don't practice them in our culture over here?

How is that relevant to the topic at hand? She is not in another country. She is an American who is a Muslim and what other country does is none of our concern when discussing this case.

I personally believe that if they were scared of robbery, why didn't security stop her when she first come into the door? Why wait for her to wait in line, go all the way into the front of the line, then reject her in front of everybody. I'm sure that if she was handled differently, this would be no problem. A little common sense people.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

How is that relevant to the topic at hand? She is not in another country. She is an American who is a Muslim and what other country does is none of our concern when discussing this case.

I know, but I was asking because this country was founded on Christian principles. The Muslim religion was brought here by other cultures. It doesn't matter because I read PM Mama's post after I posted. She already answered my question.

[starang21]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I know, but I was asking because this country was founded on Christian principles. The Muslim religion was brought here by other cultures. It doesn't matter because I read PM Mama's post after I posted. She already answered my question.

but many americans DON'T follow other country's rules.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I know, but I was asking because this country was founded on Christian principles. The Muslim religion was brought here by other cultures. It doesn't matter because I read PM Mama's post after I posted. She already answered my question.

This is misleading at best. The nation was founded on Christian principles but not Christian rules - as such, the fact that Islam came comparatively later to the party is wholly irrelevant (and again, misleading). You're knocking down a straw man.

All that matters here is whether her right to freely exercise her religious beliefs was violated. It does not appear that was the case, but I would still encourage the woman to find another bank.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

This is misleading at best. The nation was founded on Christian principles but not Christian rules - as such, the fact that Islam came comparatively later to the party is wholly irrelevant (and again, misleading). You're knocking down a straw man.

All that matters here is whether her right to freely exercise her religious beliefs was violated. It does not appear that was the case, but I would still encourage the woman to find another bank.

o.k. good point. I didn't see it like that.

I agree, if she can't follow the rules just like everyone else, then she should find another bank. Why should she be an exception?

[SWTXBelle]

I wonder if an orthodox jew would be allowed to wear his hat? Actually, upon reflection, the bank would end up not chosing to serve a fair number of religious and ethnic groups with this policy.

[CutiePie2000]

I think that the Canadian response to this would be that we accomodate people to the point where it becomes an "undue hardship" (nods to HR Professor). Is the head scarf undue hardship? Hard to say.....

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Exactly. You don't wait until a security concern walks through the door, goes through the line, and then make an issue. She should have been stopped at the door and informed of the policy the first time it happened.

I agree. I have seen security guards stand at the door and request that guys remove their ball caps, motorcycle helmets, etc.

If this goes to court (and it probably will), if her face was unobstructed, I would say that she will 'win' the case. If her face was partially obstructed (and therefore, the bank branch cameras could not get a clear shot of her face), then I would say that the bank will win.

That's basically where these "rules" are stemming from.

[PeppyGPhiB]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I wonder if an orthodox jew would be allowed to wear his hat? Actually, upon reflection, the bank would end up not chosing to serve a fair number of religious and ethnic groups with this policy.

Yeah, what about old school nuns in habits?

[CutiePie2000]

Oooh....that's true. And even some Greek Orthodox women? You don't see them around a lot but some of them do cover the hair, depending on the circumstance.

[tri deezy]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

I know, but I was asking because this country was founded on Christian principles. The Muslim religion was brought here by other cultures. It doesn't matter because I read PM Mama's post after I posted. She already answered my question.

Many of our prominent founders actually considered themselves deists. Kind of like agnostic, I guess. Not as strictly religious as people assume the signers of the constitution would be. Totally off topic. The end.

[deepimpact2]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

I personally believe that if they were scared of robbery, why didn't security stop her when she first come into the door? Why wait for her to wait in line, go all the way into the front of the line, then reject her in front of everybody. I'm sure that if she was handled differently, this would be no problem. A little common sense people.

Exactly. You don't wait until a security concern walks through the door, goes through the line, and then make an issue. She should have been stopped at the door and informed of the policy the first time it happened.

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by deepimpact2

Exactly. You don't wait until a security concern walks through the door, goes through the line, and then make an issue. She should have been stopped at the door and informed of the policy the first time it happened.

Originally Posted by from the article

But a few weeks ago, she said, she was standing in line to deposit a check when an employee asked her to come to the back room, referring to a new policy that prohibited hats, hoods and sunglasses. She complied but asked whether she would have to go through the same process each time she made a transaction.

On Saturday, Shelley said, employees again asked her to come to the back room if she would not remove her head scarf. "No," she recalled telling them, "I want to be served like everybody else."

Looks like she was aware of the policy before it became an issue.

[DaemonSeid]

And now that I think about it...heh!

The Mand T Bank around the corner from my job has 2 women tellers there that are Muslim with headscarves on, so it makes me wonder, if a policy like this starts to catch on, will there be any actions taken against EMPLOYEES who do the same.

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by Kevin

Religious beliefs < public safety.

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I read this story earlier. If going inside of the bank is going to cause a situation like this, she can use the drive thru.

I'm all for respecting cultures, but if an action causes a safety concern, find another way to do it.

I agree with both of you.

Originally Posted by DaemonSeid

And now that I think about it...heh!

The Mand T Bank around the corner from my job has 2 women tellers there that are Muslim with headscarves on, so it makes me wonder, if a policy like this starts to catch on, will there be any actions taken against EMPLOYEES who do the same.

The employees would have a bond through the bank; they'd probably be excepted.