CAIR-NJ Asks Century Savings Bank to Review Hijab Ban

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N.J., Oct. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The New Jersey chapter for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NJ) today called on Century Savings Bank to review its "inappropriate and discriminatory" policy that would treat customers wearing religious head coverings differently than other patrons.

Century Savings Bank has implemented a policy that requires all customers to remove "hats, hoods, headgear, and sunglasses" for security purposes.

A bank poster has an image of a woman wearing hijab, along with images of a woman in sunglasses, a man in a hard-hat, and a man in a cap.

SEE: Century Savings Bank Poster
http://www.cair.com/images/mailer/bank-poster-remove-hijab.jpg

SEND POLITE COMMENTS TO THE BANK:
http://www.centurysb.com/home/contact

"Having the specific image of a Muslim woman wearing hijab on the actual poster sends an inappropriate and discriminatory message," says CAIR New Jersey Civil Rights Director Khurrum Ali. "It says that hijab-wearing Muslim women are not welcome at the Bank."

Ali also noted that the Bank's policy would impact observant Sikh and Jewish men who wear turbans and yarmulkes respectively, and would logically be applied to Orthodox Jewish women who often wear wigs for religious reasons or Catholic nuns who wear habits.

CAIR New Jersey is calling on Century Savings Bank to review its new policy and to make adjustments as necessary to ensure Muslim women and individuals of all faiths are made to feel welcome as customers.

CAIR helped resolve a number of similar incidents nationwide in which Muslim customers wearing hijab have been harassed or denied service because of "no hats" policies being implemented in banks nationwide. 

SEE: 'No Hats, No Hoods, No Sunglasses' 
http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/38239234.html  

Video: CAIR-OK Wants Tulsa Bank Hijab Policy Revised
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orBF2qqsFXI

Muslim Woman Denied Service Over Head Scarf to Get Apology 
http://tinyurl.com/bn9jpt

Calif. Muslim Claims Bank Singled Her Out for Head Scarf (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kycXXQ8WyXU  

Md. Credit Union Regrets Muslim Woman's Treatment (Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onoNCK-WVZg  

CAIR offers a booklet, called "An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices," to help corporate managers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.

SEE: An Employer's Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
http://www.cair.com/images/pdf/employers_guide.pdf

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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CONTACT: CAIR-New Jersey Civil Rights Director Khurrum Ali, 908-668-5900, E-mail: kali@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com

SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations