02/07/12 – Public Accommodation – A Muslim man and woman in Burien have been having trouble with their landlord at a public housing facility. The manager/landlord at their housing facility has tried to evict the couple several times. The manager turns out to have a record of problems with discrimination, such as imposing fines on African-American and Asian-American tenants for behavior that he allows for Caucasian tenants (like feeding the birds off the deck). The man believes he has evidence to prove his case and that he just needs a lawyer that will accept payment on a contingency plan. Given this request, CAIR-WA referred the couple to several attorneys with experience in litigating civil rights cases.

02/03/12 – Employment/Harassment – A Muslim man in Kent has been harassed by the same co-worker for several years. The co-worker makes repeated snide comments about Muslims, such as wishing the man a “Happy Terrorist Day” on September 11th. The man complained to his manager on multiple occasions but his manager did not take any disciplinary actions against the co-worker and would tell the man that he was being a “crybaby”. CAIR-WA suggested the man first pursue resolution through his union which he is currently doing. CAIR-WA is closely monitoring the case and will get involved if the union does not take strong actions to reduce hostility in the workplace and require training for the man’s co-workers.

02/03/12 – Government Agency/FBI –A Muslim woman from Kent was contacted by the FBI in Oct.-Nov. 2011. They asked her questions regarding a man that was arrested in 2010, with whom they allege she had communicated at some time. The Seattle FBI office called her and after responding to their inquiry, the Chicago FBI office now wants to do a follow-up interview with her. The woman reported wanting to cooperate but she does not want the FBI to continue contacting her. CAIR-WA referred the woman to a lawyer who represented the woman pro bono (i.e. free of charge) in a 30 minute interview with the FBI.

02/02/12 – Employment/Harassment – A Muslim man in Seattle contacted CAIR-WA regarding ongoing discrimination at work. During training for his current position, the man was not given the same training as other employees and was denied one-on-one training which his co-workers received. The man believes he may be treated differently from other employees because he is Muslim. The man’s co-workers also harass him by making mean comments or throwing his book closed when he's reading it. He reported his case to his union and they said they would transfer it to another department. Options were discussed for CAIR-WA to advocate on the man’s behalf, including sending a letter to his supervisor or having a meeting to discuss the work environment. The man hasn't heard back from his union and is currently contacting his union and HR before discussing further action with CAIR-WA.

01/30/12 – Employment – A Muslim man in Portland was fired from his job unexpectedly after several years with the same company. When the man asked his employer why he was being terminated, he was told that it was regarding an incident in which two customers had been suspected of shoplifting. While the customers were exiting the store, the man asked them for their receipts and the customers offered to let him look through their bags which he briefly glanced in. The incident was caught on tape but the man’s employer accused him of “grabbing” the customers as they exited the store. The man believes that this is a fabricated reason for his termination due to a long history of harassment from his immediate supervisor. The man believes his supervisor was looking for a reason to fire him simply because the man is Muslim. CAIR-WA sent a complaint letter to the company and the company is currently compiling their response. In the meantime, CAIR-WA assisted the man in filing a complaint with the EEOC. The man has now decided to hire a private attorney.

01/26/12 – Government Agency/Police – A Muslim man from Seattle contacted CAIR-WA for assistance regarding an altercation with the police. Given the complexity of the man’s case and possible criminal charges, CAIR-WA referred the man to several attorneys for legal advice.

01/24/12 – School – A Muslim man in Tacoma contacted CAIR-WA after his six-year-old daughter was repeatedly instructed to sing Christian holiday songs at school. The man spoke to the Principal of the school after his daughter was first instructed to sing these songs and the Principal assured him that it would not happen again. However, his daughter was instructed to sing the same song the following day. For the following several weeks, the man’s daughter would go to the Principal’s office while her classmates sang Christian songs. The man also spoke to the deputy superintendent of the school district who responded with hostility. CAIR-WA sent a complaint letter to the school district addressing two primary issues: the instruction of religious materials in public schools, and the lack of balance in cultural/religious celebrations (overrepresentation of Jewish and Christian traditions and apparent absence of celebration of Islamic traditions). The school district’s attorney responded to the complaint and is currently conducting an investigation of the complaints as well as compiling public records requested in our letter. CAIR-WA continues to monitor this case closely and will continue take appropriate action as needed to bring it to resolution.

01/17/12 – Employment/Prayer – A Muslim man and his fellow Muslim co-workers in Seattle had their prayer room taken away from them after a switch in managers. The group sent a letter to Human Resources and had a meeting to discuss accommodations for prayer. CAIR-WA has contacted the man several times to follow up on his meeting with HR but he has been unresponsive to all voicemails.

01/13/12 – Employment – A Muslim woman in Seattle has been trying to find a job through a job placement and training program. The woman has gone to multiple locations for this company and often experiences unusually long wait time and staff members do not contact her when they state they will. She believes that the abnormally poor service may be due to her appearance as a hijab-wearing woman. CAIR-WA sent a letter of complaint to the company which responded by setting up a meeting to discuss the woman’s customer service complaints. Another meeting has been scheduled to discuss the discrimination portion of the woman’s complaint.

01/09/12 – Prison – A Muslim man incarcerated in Washington contacted CAIR-WA regarding religious accommodations. The man complained that Sunni and Shi’a Muslims are allowed to have separate prayer services from Nation of Islam (NOI) members, but both groups share one space and meal for Eid ul-Adha. The man is a new client of CAIR-WA but the complaint is not; many Sunni Muslims and NOI members have contacted CAIR-WA expressing their discontent with the two groups having to share a space for Eid ul-Adha. CAIR-WA is using the numerous complaints to advocate for changes within the Department of Corrections. So far, a memo has been released to all Chaplains across Washington reiterating the inappropriateness of the two groups sharing one space for Jum’ah and requiring Chaplains to provide sectarian accommodations in the same way they do for other religious groups. However, CAIR-WA is continuing to work closely with the Wash. State Dept. of Corrections (DOC) to have this requirement extended to religious celebrations as well, which is complicated by the oft-cited budget and staff shortages within the DOC.

01/05/12 – Government Agency/Other – On behalf of her sister who resides in Canada, a Muslim woman contacted CAIR-WA for assistance getting her brother-in-law back to Canada, where his wife lives. As there isn’t evidence to indicate that this may be a civil rights issue, CAIR-WA contacted several Canadian immigration groups for assistance and referred the woman to several agencies for assistance, including the CAIR chapter in Canada.

01/04/12 – Other – A US resident and employee of the State of Washington since 1998, a Muslim man contacted CAIR-WA due to his citizenship application being denied after a four-year delay. As there isn’t evidence to indicate that this may be a civil rights issue, CAIR-WA referred the man to several immigration attorneys.

01/04/12 – Other – After his friend was threatened with foreclosure, a local Muslim man contacted CAIR-WA seeking a lawyer to help his friend keep his home. As there isn’t evidence to indicate that this may be a civil rights issue, CAIR-WA referred the man to a legal clinic operated by the Middle Eastern Legal Association of Washington (MELAW) which provides 30 minutes of free legal advice and can often refer clients to attorneys for further help.

01/04/12 – General – A Muslim woman from the Seattle area contacted CAIR-WA in pursuit of an attorney to assist her in appealing a lawsuit filed against her involving the sale of her house. Given this request, CAIR-WA referred the woman to several attorneys and referral agencies for assistance.

01/04/12 – Child Custody – A local Muslim man contacted CAIR-WA for assistance in gaining partial custody of his son. The man believed that the defense lawyer was using his religion against him in court, alleging that he would take his son to live overseas if he had partial custody. The man had a lawyer but could no longer afford the fees. CAIR-WA referred the man to lawyers that practice family law with low-income clients.