The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) against the Baltimore City Fire Department (BCFD) on behalf of a Muslim paramedic who was allegedly wrongfully suspended without pay for refusing to shave his religiously-mandated beard.
Othmane El Omari, a devout Muslim, has sought to maintain facial in accordance with his sincerely-held religious beliefs since beginning his employment with BCFD. Despite his service and dedication, BCFD has repeatedly denied his requests for accommodation, enforcing grooming policies in a discriminatory manner that has hindered his ability to work free from harassment and unequal treatment.
CAIR’s complaint states in part:
“Mr. El Omari expressly seeks a narrow accommodation from BCFD that OSHA itself contemplates—shaving only the sealing area and submitting to fit testing. Refusing even to conduct a Fit Test underscores that BCFD’s obstacle is its own rigid policy, not federal law. Any alleged difficulty arises solely from BCFD’s own policies and inaction.”
“This double standard underscores the discriminatory nature of BCFD’s actions,” said Aya Beydoun, CAIR Staff Attorney. “When a policy is enforced selectively, tolerated for some but weaponized against those seeking religious accommodation, it is not about safety or professionalism. It is about discrimination.”
The Department has asserted that its grooming policy is necessary to ensure an adequate seal on respirator masks. However, OSHA regulations expressly permit employees to maintain facial hair provided they can successfully pass a respirator Fit Test. Notwithstanding this standard, BCFD has declined to administer a fit test to Mr. El Omari and instead has enforced the policy against him alone.
BCFD has permitted other EMS personnel and firefighters to wear facial hair without consequence. Many employees, including supervisors, have maintained facial hair throughout their employment and carried out their duties safely and effectively. Yet BCFD has singled out Mr. El Omari for disciplinary action, applying its grooming policy against him while ignoring violations by others.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Staff Attorney Aya Beydoun (202) 742-6449, abeydoun@cair.com ; Nadia Bayado, CAIR Staff Attorney, (202) 984-7643, nbayado@cair.com; CAIR MD Office Director Zainab Chaudry, 443-251-2132, zchaudry@cair.com