(WASHINGTON D.C., 12/28/2021) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and Baldwin & Vernon Law today filed a complaint with a United States District Court against a Missouri gun range that discriminated against a Muslim woman wearing a hijab, or Islamic head scarf.
On January 1, 2020, Rania Barakat and her husband were denied service at the Frontier Justice gun range in Jackson Co., Missouri. After waiting in line for an hour, Rania, who wears a hijab, was told she would have to remove it due to a policy at the range that banned headgear with the exception of front-facing baseball caps.
Barakat said she had been to several gun ranges and had never had to remove her hijab. Online reviews of Frontier Justice say they have refused service to Muslim women with hijabs several times.
The complaint filed by CAIR and Baldwin & Vernon Law reads in part:
“Defendants have denied Muslims who wear hijab entry to Frontier Justice, based on violations of their dress code policy, while allowing similarly situated individuals who wear headcaps or other clothing that similarly covers the neck and head to enter their facility and access to their services.”
In their complaint, CAIR and Baldwin & Vernon Law ask the court to order Frontier Justice to end its discriminatory policies toward Muslims.
In a statement, CAIR-Kansas Board Chairman Moussa Elbayoumy said:
“It is completely unacceptable for a business establishment to deny service to customers based on their religious beliefs – and that is exactly what Frontier Justice has done. The claim that a hijab somehow presents a safety issue is merely a bad excuse in an attempt to justify a pattern of discriminatory treatment of Muslim women.”
CAIR Staff Attorney Zanah Ghalawanji said:
“The actions of Frontier Justice have made it clear that Muslim women are not welcome in their establishment. The treatment Rania Barakat received from Frontier Justice represents a clear case of religious discrimination and a violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act. We demand that they end their bigoted, discriminatory policies and practices and allow Muslim women to use their services like any other customer.”
Kevin Baldwin, a partner at Baldwin & Vernon Law, said:
“This case is about equality in all aspects of American life and about ensuring those promises and ideals set forth by the Founders “to secure the blessings of Liberty” not just for themselves, but all who came after. This case is about a better America for all.”
In July 2020, CAIR sent a letter to the Department of Justice asking them to investigate civil rights violations at Frontier Justice.
SEE: Video: CAIR-National, CAIR-Kansas Seek DOJ Probe of Missouri Gun Range’s Refusal to Provide Service to a Muslim Woman Because of Her Hijab
American Muslim woman tells her story about being denied access for wearing hijab at metro gun range
https://www.kansascity.com/news/article244275227.html
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Staff Attorney Zanah Ghalawanji, 202-742-6420, zghalawanji@cair.com; CAIR National Senior Litigation Attorney Gadeir Abbas, 202-742-6420, gabbas@cair.com; CAIR Kansas Board Chair Moussa Elbayoumy, 785-318-6323; melbayoumy@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com