Imane Boudlal, center, is joined by her supporters during a news conference in Anaheim, Calif. Photo: APImane Boudlal, is a Muslim woman from Morocco who works as a hostess at a Disneyland restaurant. She is suing Disneyland accusing the California theme park of refusing to allow her to work in front of customers while wearing a hijab or headscarf.
Imane Boudlal filed a discrimination complaint Wednesday with the federal Equal Opportunity Commission.
Imane works in the Storytellers Cafe, a theme Disney restaurant. She says her employer gave her a choice of working behind the scenes or leaving after she began wearing the hijab.
Disney says it is trying to make accommodations for Boudlal. Disneyland spokeswoman Suzi Brown says the company has a dress code for its "theme positions" and has provided Boudlal with opportunities to work in backstage positions.
Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
Reader's comments
19-08-2010 John Moragn
Disneyland is an American icon, and needs to remain that way. I go there to get away from reality, not to be confronted with Islamic religion. Its Disneyland not MuslimLand!!!
19-08-2010 Olushola
I am sure our Muslim sister was well aware that there was a dressing code before accepting the job, Is she trying to make a political statement? If she can't abide by the law of the organization then, quit.
19-08-2010 Pseudonym
This is a private business, and they have the authority to create a dress code if they wish, and you have the choice to work elsewhere if you don't like the dress code. Seems militancy is leading here. Go get another job and quit harassing Disney.
19-08-2010 Powen
Only in the USA. Let me make it very clear, Ms. Boudlal - you do not have a right (constitutional or otherwise) to a job, let alone a job at Disneyworld. You have a job there, so your continued employment is subject to Disney's rules, not yours. If you don't like the work environment, you can choose to leave. You do NOT have a right to tell Disneyworld how to run its business. If you want that right, you need to be the CEO of Disney.
19-08-2010 (USA)
This is ridiculous, Disney and any other employer has the right to determine what is appropriate in their workplace. It is the person's choice to exercise her religion at her place of worship or find another job.
19-08-2010 Scott (USA)
Go back to your own country, or abide by employer's rules. I know Disney has "costume themes" for all their public employees. Why not try to be an actress on Broadway and wear that rag on your had too! Makes no sense. I wouldn't want to have someone serve me at Disneyland that is out of character. WAKE UP
19-08-2010 (USA)
All this lady will accomplish in the long run will be to make prospective employers wary of hiring those suspected of being Muslim. Nobody HAS to give her a job.
19-08-2010 Vlad (Russia)
You have to understand that Disneyland is not Muslimland. Every country has its customs.
19-08-2010
DISNEY needs to be more understanding. The Muslim sister needs to work too. This world is changing everyday so get a clue.
20-08-2010 merry Chase (Morocco)
Yes, Ms. Boudlal America is the land of the free. I so agree with Disney World. If you don't like it leave. . Here in Morocco they already impose the Hijab on us. Why would you want to go to a free country and impose it on them...Think woman think. They don't force their religion on you ...let's not force ours on them. Look at their by - laws. You make people like us look bad.
20-08-2010 Jane O'rourke (USA)
You go girl. Sue those Disneyland bloodsuckers. They deserve someone to bring them down from their high horse and give them a dose of reality. Kudos and stand up for what you believe in and don't give in to the bigots in this country.
20-08-2010 Hunter
Get rid of her!!! This is getting CRAZY!!! We are supposed to be in AMERICA.I sure hope this teaches you a lesson on hiring!!!
20-08-2010 JAKASMFKR
“Who is Disney to tell me I cannot” They provide you work. Something lots wish we had. Disney is not stupid. I’m sure you received a dress code guideline packet. Either you didn’t read it or you did read it and decided that after your citizenship was finalized, you were going to make some noise. Either way, when you accepted the job, you accepted their terms of employment. If you don’t like it, quit and let someone else who is willing to follow the rules apply for the position.
20-08-2010 True American (USA)
Stop Hate about the religions uneducated ignorant people. She should be allowed to wear whatever she wants to as long as she is not naked. I'd hate it if someone tells me not to wear my cap, jacket etc. .She has as much right as us Americans.
20-08-2010 True American (USA)
Good job she should sue Disney place. How dare they say no to her headscarf? She's better than my American fellows who are sleeping around basically doing adultery and giving birth to multiple men's different kids they don't even know themselves.
20-08-2010 BON
I am a Muslim who wears the headscarf and totally disagrees with what she is doing. She seems to be an opportunist! Disney is a great company, and their dress codes are clear. Disney has the right to not allow the hijab if they don't want to due to the image of Disney. If she doesn't like it, she should go work somewhere else, where dress code isn't an issue. She should be thankful to have a job here in the United States. Many people can't find that opportunity to begin with!
20-08-2010 KM
The comments saying that her employer has a right to tell her she can't wear her headscarf are ridiculous. They can't refuse her a job because of her religion. I don't care about their dress code; they need to make an exception in this situation. A headscarf is required in the Muslim religion. This is AMERICA!
20-08-2010 Jakasmfkr
I just wanted to thank Imane Boudlal for opening up the job market a little more to non-Muslim applicants. Your actions give employers reason to think more than twice about hiring people of Muslim faith. In fact, your actions just made it quite a bit harder for fellow Muslims to secure a job. So as someone who badly needs a job and would be more than happy to FOLLOW THE RULES set forth by an employer. THANK YOU for putting all your fellow Muslim job applicants at the bottom of the waiting list.
21-08-2010 Petra Meyer (USA)
People don't go to Disneyland to be confronted with religious statements. They go there to experience a fantasyland. How selfish of her to demand to work out of costume and ruin the experience for the children who visit Disneyland. She needs to find a job someplace else that doesn't require a costume.
21-08-2010 Travis Ciortan
If they think that what she's wearing doesn't work with the theme, they should have the right to tell her to take it off. Not only did they just ask her to take it off, but also they gave her different options! They said she can work in the back and can wear whatever she wants and they even offered to make her a special costume! So obviously Disney just cares about the theming of the restaurant. It seems like she just wants money and attention.
adapted from www.voanews.com
