Women who practice Islam are frequently seen wearing a headscarf called a "hijab." This part of their wardrobe is important in their religion, and companies all over the country employ women who wear hijabs to work.

Last week, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - a federal agency dedicated to protecting employees' civil rights - filed a lawsuit against the Ohio-based company Abercrombie and Fitch. An 18-year-old Muslim woman says that she was denied a job at the retailer because she wore a hijab to the interview.

Religious discrimination can take many forms, but refusing to hire an employee based on his or her religion is one of the most conspicuous. In this case, the hiring manager apparently marked "not Abercrombie look" on the young woman's interview form because she wore an Islamic headscarf to the interview for a stocking position.

The attorney handling the case for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said, "This retailer that targets a youth market is sending the message that you cannot aspire to their 'All American' brand if you wear a head covering to comply with your faith."

The 18-year-old who was denied a job says that this experience not only discouraged her from applying for other positions at Abercrombie and Fitch, it caused her to decide not to shop at the store anymore.

This is not the first time the Ohio company has faced a lawsuit of this kind. There is currently another case pending in Oklahoma in which the company's lawyers claim that allowing an employee to wear a hijab "would have created an undue hardship."

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, "Abercrombie & Fitch sued over Muslim scarf," Bob Egelko, 2 Sept 2010