Muslim American fired after requesting time off to celebrate Eid al-Adha

A Muslim American man was fired after he asked his North Carolina company for time off to celebrate an Islamic religious holiday, according to a lawsuit filed last week.

Hussein Altaweel, a Muslim who migrated to the U.S. as a refugee in 2013 and was naturalized earlier this year, was hired as a project manager in 2015 at telecommunications contractor Longent LLC.

He was fired for “not request(ing) PTO ahead of time for planned events”, even though he asked for time off two weeks before the event.

Marking the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God’s command, Muslims mark the Eid al-Adha holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats. The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

The exact date of the holiday depends on the phases of the moon and varies each year.

“Plaintiff requested the paid time-off as soon as the exact dates of Eid al-Adha were determined,” the lawsuit went on to say.

Claiming discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment, Altaweel, who volunteered as a translator for the U.S. Marine Corps in 2003 during the Iraqi war, is seeking economic and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees.

“We have our own holidays in this country. Aren’t those holidays enough for you?” his CEO told him.

Even though Altaweel exceeded all job requirements and is the recipient of positive reviews when assessed for performance, he was “routinely paid less than his under-qualified colleagues.”

The suit went on to state that his fellow colleagues were granted “paid time-off to observe Christian and/or Jewish holidays.”

Adding insult to injury was his CEO reportedly offering him pork to try, even though it is strictly prohibited under Islam.