A British convert to Islam who claims she was ordered to remove her hijab at work is claiming she was racially discriminated against because she is white.
Aisha Amalou, described in legal papers as a “caucasian female who converted to Islam many years ago”, is attempting to win damages from a care home company over allegations a manager insisted she was “not even a Muslim”.
She alleges a colleague at the Lochleven Care Home in Broughty Ferry, where she was employed as a care assistant, repeatedly ordered her to remove the head covering and dismissed her pleas that she wore it for religious reasons.
Ms Amalou, 33, claims she then sought to raise the issue with a manager, Kim McLaughlin. However, it is alleged Ms McLaughlin revealed that she was the one who had given the order for the hijab to be taken off.
It is alleged that another manager, Scott Bland, sacked Ms Amalou on Mar 1 because she suffered a panic attack at work and because of the “hijab issue”.
Mr Bland is said to have told Ms Amalou “toddle-oo” in a “mocking tone” after firing her.
‘Stereotypical assumption’
Ms Amalou, who was born and raised in Scotland, is taking legal action against Thistle Healthcare Ltd, the care home operator, alleging an “incorrect stereotypical assumption” was made that she should not be wearing a hijab.
Ms Amalou, who began working at the care home in November last year, is also claiming mistreatment on the grounds of her Muslim religion and disability, citing a history of anxiety and depression.
Thistle Healthcare Ltd declined to comment before the case is heard at the end of next month but it is understood the company will dispute all of Ms Amalou’s claims and state that at no point during her employment was she asked to remove her head covering.
Sources suggested the firm had evidence to confirm that conversations Ms Amalou alleges took place never happened.
However, Ryan Russell, Ms Amalou’s lawyer, insisted his client had the evidence to support her allegations, including text message exchanges with her imam and eyewitness accounts from other workers.
Legal papers include a WhatsApp exchange with her imam, on the date she alleges she was ordered to remove the hijab, seeking his guidance.
She wrote: “My manager told me to remove my hijab I got emotional… she says its [sic] not religion and to take it off I’m really upset.” She asked the imam: “Is the hijab a choice? What should I do?”
‘The hijab is timeless’
Ms Amalou’s imam advised her to explain the importance of her hijab in a “non-confrontational way” and added: “The benefits of hijab are many, the ruling of hijab is timeless, and it is a part of our religion and obedience to Allah.”
The legal papers state that Ms Amalou was told to remove her hijab due to a policy around head coverings in the workplace.
It is alleged that she was dismissed for reasons “connected to wearing the hijab” and that comments about it created an “intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment”.
Ms Amalou is seeking a ruling that she was unlawfully discriminated against and “financial compensation and an award for injury to feelings.”
She claims the discrimination she encountered “had a significant impact” on her mental health.
Mr Russell said his firm, MML Law, “seeks to raise awareness for those being discriminated against in the workplace” and predicted the case would proceed to a full public hearing in 2025.
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