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Chicago Tribune - January 3, 2005
Muslim American charges discrimination
in federal lawsuit
BY MATT O'CONNOR
CHICAGO - - A Muslim American who formerly worked for a suburban Chicago manufacturer filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging he was fired after he complained of harassment by co-workers and supervisors following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The suit by Syed Abbas, a native of Pakistan, said one co-worker at AFI Industries Inc. repeatedly called him a terrorist while a supervisor drew laughter at the factory when he made a crude drawing of Abbas and labeled it a "wanted" poster.
In a telephone interview, Abbas, a naturalized U.S. citizen, said he was so alarmed when one supervisor told him he was under government surveillance that he sold his house at a loss and moved his family in with relatives. The same supervisor had warned Abbas that someone would break into Abbas' house and shoot him, according to the suit.
"They took advantage of him because they knew they could play on his fears," said Kamran Memon, one of Abbas' lawyers. "They picked a guy who they knew was vulnerable."
A company official was faxed a copy of the lawsuit but had no comment Monday on the allegations. AFI Industries, based in Carol Stream, manufactures screws and other fasteners.
The number of cases alleging workplace discrimination based on religion has increased significantly since the Sept. 11 attacks, according to the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
In the three years after Sept. 11, the number of discrimination charges by Muslims or those perceived to be Muslim more than doubled to 1,778, compared with 892 in the three years before the terrorist attacks, the EEOC says.
And that doesn't include the complaints filed with state anti-discrimination agencies or individuals who didn't file complaints for fear of retaliation from employers or fear of attracting the attention of law enforcement, Memon said.
Abbas, 40, married and the father of four children, said he worked as a machine operator for AFI Industries for nearly nine years before he was fired in March 2003 as the U.S. prepared to invade Iraq.
Before Sept. 11, Abbas said, "Everything was OK." His boss considered him a good employee and team player, Abbas said.
But after the terrorist attacks, a supervisor repeatedly told Abbas he was dangerous and that no more Pakistanis would be hired full time, according to the suit.
On one occasion, a co-worker asked Abbas how his cousin was doing. When Abbas inquired which cousin, the co-worker replied, "Osama bin Laden," the suit alleged. "He's your Muslim brother," Abbas quoted the co-worker as telling him.
The supervisor told Abbas that the CIA and FBI were watching him and warned that someone would break into his house and shoot him, the suit charged.
At that point, the supervisor formed his hand into the shape of a gun and fired off shots at Abbas, the suit said.
"He genuinely believed his life was in danger," Memon said.
After he repeatedly complained about the alleged harassment, Abbas said the factory manager became hostile, yelling at him in front of other employees and unfairly criticizing his work. He was also given more difficult assignments and reduced overtime, according to the suit.
The suit doesn't seek specific damages from AFI Industries, but Memon said he wants compensation for emotional abuse as well as economic losses. Abbas has been undergoing counseling since he was fired, Memon said.
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/10558067.htm?1c
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