The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) , a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today announced that it has filed a civil rights complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) against Corewell Health following the discovery of social media posts by a healthcare employee identifying herself as a “proud Islamophobe.”
The complaint alleges that the employee, who publicly identified herself online as a healthcare provider working for Corewell Health, shared posts expressing hostility toward Muslims and advocating discriminatory treatment toward Muslim communities, including calls to ban Islam and close mosques.
CAIR-MI further alleges that in addition to Islamophobic content, other social media posts attributed to the same employee appear to include material that disparages other racial minority groups and persons of color, raising broader concerns about discriminatory bias and hostility toward protected communities.
CAIR-MI asserts that the posts raise serious concerns about discriminatory bias within a healthcare environment responsible for treating patients from diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds.
According to the complaint filed with the state civil rights agency, multiple complaints about the same employee had been made to Corewell Health over a period of approximately two years, yet the hospital system allegedly failed to take meaningful corrective action. Human Resources personnel reportedly acknowledged receiving multiple complaints regarding the individual’s social media activity but allowed the situation to continue.
The complaint also alleges that after concerns were reported internally, the employer disclosed the identity of the employee who raised the complaint, creating fear of retaliation and intensifying the hostile work environment.
Dawud Walid, Executive Director of CAIR-Michigan, condemned the alleged conduct and the failure to address it:
“No patient should have to wonder whether the person responsible for their care harbors hatred toward their faith, and no employee should have to work alongside someone who proudly advertises bigotry against Muslims,” Walid said. “Hospitals are places where trust is essential. When healthcare professionals publicly embrace Islamophobia, it undermines that trust and threatens the safety and dignity of both staff and patients.”
CAIR-MI says the environment ultimately forced the affected employee to take leave from work due to fear, anxiety, and safety concerns stemming from the workplace situation.
“When someone responsible for caring for vulnerable patients publicly identifies themselves as a ‘proud Islamophobe,’ it raises serious concerns about bias in healthcare,” said Amy V. Doukoure, Esq., Lead Staff Attorney for CAIR-Michigan. “Patients should never have to question whether the person treating them harbors hostility toward their faith, race, or identity. Healthcare institutions have a responsibility to confront bigotry—not ignore it.”
The complaint alleges violations of Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits religious discrimination, harassment that creates a hostile work environment, and retaliation against employees who report discriminatory conduct.
CAIR-MI is requesting that the Michigan Department of Civil Rights conduct a full investigation and require corrective action to ensure a nondiscriminatory workplace within the healthcare system.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, 248-842-1418, dwalid@cair.com; CAIR Lead Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, 586-943-8823, adoukoure@cair.com