[roberto]

Hairdresser sued for refusing to hire Muslim woman in a headscarf

The owner of a hair salon is being sued for religious discrimination for refusing to hire a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf.
Sarah Desrosiers, 32, says she turned down Bushra Noah as a junior stylist to maintain the image of her salon, which specialises in "urban, funky" cuts.
She told Miss Noah, 19, she needed her staff to display their hairstyles to the public.

Bushra Noah: Insists headscarf is irrelevant to her skills
But the devout Muslim insisted that wearing her headscarf was essential to her beliefs.
Miss Noah, who has been rejected for 25 different hairdressing jobs after interviews, is suing Miss Desrosiers for more than £15,000 for injury to her feelings plus an unspecified sum for lost earnings.
Miss Desrosiers, who set up the Wedge salon in King's Cross, North London, 18 months ago, says she faces financial ruin if she loses the case.


She denies any discrimination and insists it is an "absolutely basic" job requirement that cus-Yesterday, Miss Desrosier said: "When a potential client walks past on the street, they look into a salon at the stylists to get an impression of what haircut they are going to get there.


"The image I have built my salon on is very urban, funky, punky. That is the look I am going for.


Flamboyant hair: Owner Sarah Desrosiers expects her staff to help 'sell image'

"If an employee were wearing a baseball cap or cowboy hat I would ask them to remove it at work.
"It has nothing to do with religion. But I now feel like I have been branded a racist. My name is being dragged through the mud."
She went on: "This girl is suing me for more than I earn in a year.
"I am a small business and have only had my salon a year and a half. If I lose this lawsuit, my business will fold."
In legal papers setting out her employment tribunal claim, Miss Noah alleges she was discriminated against at her interview in March and wrongly turned down for a job she was capable of doing because of her headscarf.


Yesterday, she said: "The advertised job of junior assistant stylist was perfect for me. I did NVQs in hairdressing at college and have 18 months experience at a salon in Ealing Broadway.


"On the phone, Sarah sounded very keen on me because of my experience and qualifications. I sent her my CV and she invited me in a few days later for a trial day.


"But when I got there, she looked at me in shock. She started making excuses about wanting someone who lived locally but I knew it was my headscarf.


"She said, 'You really should have told me that you wear a headscarf'. She asked if I wore it all the time and I said, 'Yes'. She asked if I would take it off for work and I said, 'No'.


"Wearing a headscarf is very important in my religion and is non-negotiable. It is about showing your modest side."
Miss Noah added: "I am Britishborn and I know the urban, funky look. Just because I wear a headscarf does not mean I do not follow the latest trends and fashions.


"Afterwards, I felt so devastated and depressed. It has always been my ambition to be a hairdresser but I have given up now after being rejected 25 times.

"It is always because of my headscarf, whether they say it or not.


"I just thought that Sarah should not be allowed to get away with it and that if I don't stand up for myself, no one else will."


The case will be heard at the Central London Employment Tribunal in January.

Yet another case, which many will see as an attempt to get some easy cash

Hairdresser sued for refusing to hire Muslim woman in a headscarf | the Daily Mail

[ChotooMotoo]

Wow, rejected 25 times as a stylist. That sucks.

I understand the point the salon owner is making, that looks are an esential part of the business. That being said I've been to salons where the stylist looks absolutely aweful, but she knew how to cut hair very well. I can also understand the other lady's side. I wouldn't want to be rejected in my profession for my religious beliefs either. It's too bad there isn't some kind of lady's only salon she could join. They have barber shops just for men, why not salon's just for women?

[heba]

i totally understand the owners point of view.
i judge the person about to do my hair by how they do their own hair...

im sure there are muslim owned salons that would hire her. i bet she was only applyin to places she knew wouldnt hire her to prove a point. and then have a reaosn to make some easy money like roberto said....

[tinkerbell]

out of 25, she only decides to sue this one. lol

[Rain]

more reason for cynical, pipe-smoking haters to say "i told you so". i don't get this girl. why the hell didn't she listen to her mum and study medicine instead? plenty of hijabi doctors around.

[nooni]

shes better off starting her own salon....

[AmroodWaala]

i look for the cheapest price... one of my barbers is bald while others have ok haircuts.. don't really care. for $6, + $2 tip , it's all good

in houston, next to Shawarma King, chinese folks do it for $2.50

none speak english.....

[ShiaHazara]

Originally Posted by Rain

more reason for cynical, pipe-smoking haters to say "i told you so". i don't get this girl. why the hell didn't she listen to her mum and study medicine instead? plenty of hijabi doctors around.

only to whine about anatomy and alcohol. typical of a minority of british muslims playing the victim