Duha Dallah, 19, (pictured) claims she lost out on a sales position at a Texas Dillard’s because of her hijab
A woman who was offered employment at a Texas Dillard’s sued the department store, claiming she lost her job because of religious discrimination.
It seems Duha Dallah, 19, had already begun training for a sales position at Firewheel Town Center in Garland before a children’s department manager informed her she would not be permitted to wear a head scarf on the floor.
In a follow-up meeting, the Muslim teen told the store manager about the conversation – while noting the hijab was a required part of her religion.
The store manager apologized and told her the individual had not been fully informed of store policy.
However, later, Dallah received an email from the store manager, who retracted her employment offer and said other candidates were being interviewed for the position.
Dallah said she had already begun training for a sales position at Firewheel Town Center in Garland before she was told her head scarf was not permitted
A second manager at the Dillard’s apologized and told her the person had not been fully informed of store policy, but she later received an email saying she was no longer offered the job
The teen took to Facebook November 30 following the incident to share her story
‘I believe I lost the sales position because Dillard’s did not want a Muslim woman wearing a headscarf to work on the sales floor,’ Dallah said, according to Dallas News.
The disappointed teen took to Facebook November 30 following the incident to share her story.
‘I recently contacted CAIR-DFW because I was refused employment at Dillard’s due to my headscarf.
The heartbroken Dallah said she felt invalidated and belittled because of her religious beliefs
Dallah also said she ‘had the job in her hand’ until the disagreement over her hijab
‘I am seeking the justice I deserve With the help of my attorneys Nikiya Natale and Christine Hopkins, they were able to file a charge of discrimination with the Texas Workforce Commission against Dillard’s.’
The heartbroken Dallah said the managers were ‘invalidating’ and ‘belittling’ her over her religious beliefs.
‘I was honestly speechless at the time and could not believe what I was hearing. It made me feel as tho my religion is what is stopping me from pursuing a job in America.’
‘I don’t think any woman should ever have to go through that. I felt the hate. It’s extremely heartbreaking that a place my family and I love to shop at would discriminate against me because of my head scarf.’
Dallah said she was ‘overqualified’ for the position and ‘had the job in her hand’ until the disagreement.
The Garland Dillard’s has not yet commented on the matter and could not be reached late Friday.
‘I don’t think any woman should ever have to go through that. I felt the hate. It’s extremely heartbreaking,’ she added in the Facebook post
Dallah wears the hijab at all times, as it is required for her religious beliefs