Companies try to serve their customers with dignity and respect and in return customers must respect the company’s security policies.
Don’t follow the rules, then suffer the consequences. This is what happened to a woman and was kicked out of a payday loan company in Michigan because she thought the security policies didn’t apply to her because she was Muslim.
Nadia Kamal entered Advance America Cash Advance in Westland Michigan wearing a hijab, even though a sign was clearly posted “please remove hat and glasses” before entering their store. The cash checking store installed the sign due to past criminal activity, deter future criminals from covering their head or face, and to ensure a full face is distinguishable on a security camera.
“The lady she told them just take it off a little bit and put it back,” her husband, Fatah Kamal, told Fox2Detriot. “She said, ‘I can’t, I’m in a public place I cannot do that.'” She then reported the cash checking store to Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR). CAIR has filed a lawsuit with Advance America Cash Advance.
Dawud Walid, of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said women are permitted to wear headscarves to do everything from go to the bank to take driver’s license photos.
“This is really about ignorance, it’s really about fossilized policies and people being stubborn and not coming up to the modern time,” Walid said.
Advance America issued a statement:
“Advance America respects all religious beliefs and serves all customers with dignity and respect. For the safety of our customers and employees, we do have a security policy in place that requires anyone seeking entry in to our centers briefly remove any hoods, hats, sunglasses or other head coverings. It is an important security measure designed to ensure that anyone entering our centers can be easily identified. That policy was being enforced in this particular case. The safety and security of our customers and employees are our primary responsibilities and we take them seriously.”
Twitter user “Defend Glenn” pointed out that Islamic law prohibits Muslims from paying interest. This means that Kamal never should have been there trying to get a pay day loan in the first place.
Wait a sec – Aren’t ‘devout’ Muslims forbidden to pay interest at a payday loan place? #Hypocrite #liar #cair http://t.co/1y9re4jb4x
— Defend Glenn (@DefendGlenn) August 19, 2015
(h/t Fox2Detriot)
