The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today filed a civil rights complaint with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights on behalf of a Muslim and Arab-American police officer working with the East Pointe Michigan Police Department, alleging religious discrimination, retaliation, and a hostile work environment within the Eastpointe Police Department.
The complaint alleges that the officer was subjected to anti-Muslim harassment after overhearing a fellow officer state “F*** all Muslims” while on duty and in the presence of supervisory personnel. According to the complaint, despite immediate reporting of the incident, supervisory staff failed to properly report or address the conduct until outside attention was brought to the matter. After this initial incident, CAIR-MI was notified by an anonymous concerned co-worker of the Complainant and reached out to the Chief of Police who indicated that he was following up on the matter. However, no further communication has been forthcoming, and the issues remain unresolved.
The filing further alleges that after reporting the discriminatory conduct, the officer experienced retaliation, including false accusations, discriminatory comments, damage to his professional reputation, and disparate disciplinary treatment.
The complaint also details allegations that a supervising officer visited the complainant’s wife’s business while in uniform, made disturbing and inappropriate comments, referenced the department’s distrust of the complainant, and engaged in intimidating conduct that extended the hostile environment beyond the workplace.
“This complaint raises deeply troubling allegations of anti-Muslim bias, retaliation, and a failure of leadership within a law enforcement agency,” said Lead Staff Attorney for CAIR-MI, Amy V. Doukoure, Esq.. “When law enforcement officers express overt religious animus, the concern is greater than a hostile work environment. Communities cannot trust officers who hold these views to fairly uphold the law or protect the safety of all people they are sworn to serve. No officer should face retaliation for reporting discrimination, and no police department should tolerate conduct that undermines public trust in equal protection under the law.”
“Allegations of openly anti-Muslim and anti-Arab hostility within a law enforcement agency are especially alarming at a time when ethnic and religious minorities across the United States are experiencing heightened fear, polarization, and dehumanizing rhetoric,” said Executive Director of CAIR Michigan, Dawud Walid. “When public officials and institutions fail to firmly confront religious animus, it normalizes discrimination and erodes public trust in the very systems charged with protecting civil rights and public safety. Muslim, Arab, and other minority communities should not have to question whether those sworn to serve them view them with hostility because of their faith or identity.”
The complaint alleges violations of the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including claims for religious discrimination, hostile work environment, retaliation, and disparate treatment.
CAIR-MI is calling for a full investigation into the allegations and appropriate corrective action to ensure accountability and equal treatment within the department.
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
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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