Carmen Sharpe-Allen, despite a good performance record, was fired in December 2005, from the Delaware County Prison (Pennsylvania) after a meeting with Warden Ronald Nardolillo.
Why?
Because she would not remove her khimar while on duty as a nurse at the prison.
Prison officials are being accused of violating workplace discrimination laws by firing Sister Carmen. A Federal lawsuit has been brought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Sister Carmen and other female Muslim employees at the prison.
The Geo Group Inc., is the Florida-based private company that operates the Delaware County Prison.
An Associated Press article states that "(The prison) has forced its Muslim female employees to compromise their religious beliefs by removing their khimars while on duty or risk termination," according to the federal suite. The prison instituted the ban on head scarves in early 2005, the suite said."
The photo I have chosen for this post is of my Muslim sister's daughter. She is three years old, Masha Allah.
She was so happy that I wanted to photograph her in her little hijab, Alhamdulillah.
Insha Allah she will be able to always know the joy of wearing hijab due to the courage of Muslim sisters like those who work at the Delaware County Prison.
4 comments:
Assalamu'Alaykum,
sometimes i just don't understand the reason why women like these have to be sidelined. there is no interference of their headgear in the way they carry out their job. it is neither offensive nor revealing. it does not attract danger.
i really do not understand the issue. may we all become better Muslim women with that story!
let us know how it all turns out!
It is events like these that give muslimahs like us the courage to continue with our hijab wearing.
One day, I want to be an advocate for women like this. EnshaAllah
Salams :
I am new to hijab and I can certainly see some of the issues already happening.
But honestly- I feel more at peace than ever before.
Salaams Sister New Hijabi:
May Allah As-Salaam continue to grant you peace/Ameen.
Thanks for stopping by!
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