AutoZone gets sued by Sikh coalition

By siliconindia   |   Friday, 19 November 2010, 11:35 IST
Printer Print Email Email
Boston: AutoZone, a national distributor and retailer of automobile parts has got into trouble as they have been alleged of violating federal law by subjecting a Sikh employee to bigoted harassment and refused to accommodate his religious need to wear a turban and finds itself in a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, alleges that AutoZone created an intimidating work environment for Frank Mahoney Burroughs when he observed his Sikh religion symbols its location in Massachusetts. As the lawsuit runs, a manager asked Burroughs if he was a terrorist and had joined Al-Qaeda and whether he intended to blow up the store. In addition, AutoZone failed to intervene when customers referred to Burroughs as 'Bin Laden' and made terrorist jokes quotes Indus business Journal. The complaint also said that AutoZone refused to let Burroughs wear a turban and kara (a religious bracelet) as required of adherents of Sikhism. To end with, AutoZone is alleged to have terminated him because of his religion and in retaliation for complaining about discrimination. "I spent more time with AutoZone staff than with my own family and friends," said Mahoney Burroughs. "It was very painful to be humiliated and insulted by them. They made me feel as though I had no right to practice my faith. When I complained, I was discarded like a piece of trash. I don't want AutoZone to do this to anyone else." Sikh Coalition, the nation's largest Sikh civil rights organization brought this matter to the attention of EEOC and filed the charge of discrimination with the EEOC in March 2010 on behalf of Burroughs that led to the recently filed lawsuit. In the years since 9/11, misperceptions about this appearance have led to hate attacks and discrimination against Sikhs across the country. The Sikh Coalition has recorded over 600 incidents of partiality against Sikhs on its website since 9/11.