Muslim teacher wanted 3 weeks off to visit Mecca

[MacGruber]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...MNHJ1IHU5G.DTL

(03-23) 04:00 PDT Berkeley, Ill. --
Safoorah Khan had taught middle school math for only nine months in this tiny Chicago suburb when she made an unusual request. She wanted three weeks off for a pilgrimage to Mecca.
The school district, faced with losing its only math lab instructor during the end-of-semester marking period, said no. Khan, a devout Muslim, resigned and made the trip anyway.
Justice Department lawyers examined the same set of facts and reached a different conclusion - that the school district's decision amounted to outright discrimination against Khan. They filed an unusual lawsuit, accusing the district of violating her civil rights by forcing her to choose between her job and her faith.

[puckluck]

I'm sure lots of people would be up in arms if they had to work through Christmas too.

[MrMastodonFarm]

9 months on the job, then asked for almost a month vacation.

Yah, no. Not discrimination, she's stupid for asking,

[ken0042]

Why did she have to go this year? Why not next year?

I'm just thinking that if she had been with her employer for more than a year she may have had better standing. The other thing not mentioned; is this something she has done every year? My impression was this was her first time going.

I guess what I am saying is why does the employer need to bend to meet the wants of a new employee. (And I say "wants" instead of "needs" under the assumption this was not an annual trip.)

[scotty2hotty]

Originally Posted by puckluck

I'm sure lots of people would be up in arms if they had to work through Christmas too.

Lots of people get a week off for Christmas.

I'm sure she could have easily asked for a week.

[Kool Keef]

Originally Posted by ken0042

I'm just thinking that if she had been with her employer for more than a year she may have had better standing. The other thing not mentioned; is this something she has done every year? My impression was this was her first time going.

You only have to do it once in your lifetime. She was a fool to ask.

[burn_this_city]

I think there's more to the story. I've heard the Saudi's cap the number of people who can go every year, so you don't typically get to go whenever you feel like. Potentially she had been waiting a while and took her opportunity to go once it came up.

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by scotty2hotty

Lots of people get a week off for Christmas.

I'm sure she could have easily asked for a week.

The weeks she asked for really isn't an issue. Even with one week off they would have had to make arrangements for another math teacher.

The issue is should the government have to give someone of faith time off to practice their faith. If they bend over for other religions I don't see why they can't for muslims.

As Ken said above I wonder why she chose to go at that time though. There is no time limit for going to the Hage. I think she should have waited until the summer break maybe, but I really don't know why she wanted to go at that time so I can't really say forsure.

[Reggie Dunlop]

In the United States, businesses are required to provide “reasonable accommodation” to employees to practice their faith, as long as it doesn’t create undue hardship on the employer.

Don't think it'll stand up in court.

[Sainters7]

So she's in her first school year there and she asks for almost a month off? Makes sense. What a dumbass.

You're a teacher, ever hear of July & August?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by puckluck

As Ken said above I wonder why she chose to go at that time though. There is no time limit for going to the Hage. I think she should have waited until the summer break maybe, but I really don't know why she wanted to go at that time so I can't really say forsure.

It's spelled Hajj and it's usually in October/November.

Are you really Muslim?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by puckluck

As Ken said above I wonder why she chose to go at that time though. There is no time limit for going to the Hage. I think she should have waited until the summer break maybe, but I really don't know why she wanted to go at that time so I can't really say forsure.

There is a specific time of the year that they are supposed to visit and (according to the article) it won't fall on summer break for nine years. The way I understand it (which could be wrong), a Muslim is supposed to visit once in their life.

Seems odd to me that she'd take a government gig, knowing the schedule and all that, and then decide to go the first chance she gets.

If I didn't know better, I'd think she might have had this "I'm gonna sue someone" strategy planned ahead of time. But that can't be. This is about faith!

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

It's spelled Hajj and it's usually in October/November.

Are you really Muslim?

Lol no spelling is wrong when you're converting an arabic word to english. Hage..hajj..haje I've seen it all.

And lol apparently not a very good one. All I knew what that you had to go once in your lifetime.

[SeoulFire]

I think an atheist should sue. Not receiving "benefits" due to religion (or lack thereof) seems pretty clear cut...no?

[Winsor_Pilates]

Doesn't seem like she did anything wrong. She asked for time off, they said no. So she quit and went anyway, so what?

Seems to me it's the Justice Department who is making an issue of it, not her. Unless I've misread the story in the OP.

Edit: NM, She's an idiot
"In November 2008, Khan filed a religious discrimination charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which found cause for discrimination and referred the case to the Justice Department."

[puckluck]

Looks like I'm going to hell.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Originally Posted by puckluck

Lol no spelling is wrong when you're converting an arabic word to english. Hage..hajj..haje I've seen it all.

Okay, I'll give you that. Should've had a on that.

I have a Muslim co-worker who routinely books Christmas week off for no reason other than he has the seniority in which to do so. Much to the chagrin of fellow employees.

On top of the Muslim holidays he books.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by puckluck

The weeks she asked for really isn't an issue. Even with one week off they would have had to make arrangements for another math teacher.

The issue is should the government have to give someone of faith time off to practice their faith. If they bend over for other religions I don't see why they can't for muslims.

As Ken said above I wonder why she chose to go at that time though. There is no time limit for going to the Hage. I think she should have waited until the summer break maybe, but I really don't know why she wanted to go at that time so I can't really say forsure.

The only problem is that if you do it for one, you do it for all.

Christmas isnt really a christian holiday anymore, its a Santa holiday made for presents.

Im going to sue because i want to go to Jerusalem during Christmas and need a month off...

People are just sue happy and think everyone owes them something... you wanna go... fine, pay the consequences, you knew about it before you signed on, and if you didnt tell your employer, your at fault.

[billybob123]

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islamic faith:

Shahada
Daily Prayer
Ramadan
Alms
Hajj

So every able-bodied Muslim needs to go once in their life. However, some people do it regularly.

And the Muslim calendar is based on the moon, so their "year" is shorter than the calendar year for 12 days or so, and only repeats every 33 years. That's why she "can't just go in the summer". The Hajj month is errrr November now, I think, so if she "waits until summer" it won't be until errr 2025 or so.

Muslims can make a pilgrammage to Mecca at any time, it's called Umrah, but it's not the same as the Hajj.

That being said, I agree with everyone that 9 months of employment shouldn't let someone take 3 weeks (consecutive weeks, too!) off. Wait a few years until you have some senority (and replacements).

[Resolute 14]

That, or you negotiate that as part of being hired. "I have plans to go to Mecca for three weeks during the school year, and I would like to negotiate the possibility of keeping those plans now."