Hairdresser is sued for refusing a job to woman in a headscarf

John Cooper · 09-11-2007, 01:56 PM

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Quote:

The owner of an "alternative" London hair salon is being sued for religious discrimination after refusing to give a job to a Muslim woman who wanted to wear a headscarf at work.

Sarah Desrosiers, whose Wedge salon specialises in "urban funky" cuts, says she turned down applicant Bushra Noah because she was "selling image" and needed her staff to display their hairstyles to the public.

Ms Noah, 19, is claiming religious discrimination and suing Ms Desrosiers for more than £15,000 for injury to her feelings, as well as an unspecified sum for lost earnings.

Ms Desrosiers, 32, who set up her business in King's Cross 18 months ago, has already spent more than £1,000 fighting the case and says that if she loses she will be forced to close.

She denies any discrimination and says she rejected Ms Noah because she was unwilling to show her hair at work.

"I sell image - it's very important - and I would expect a hair stylist to display her hair because I need people to be drawn in off the street," said Ms Desrosiers. "It's the nature and style of my salon that brings people in and someone having their hair covered conflicts with that. If someone came in wearing a baseball hat or a cowboy hat I'd tell them to take it off while they're working. To me, it's absolutely basic that people should be able to see the stylist's hair."

In a legal letter setting out her employment tribunal case, Ms Noah, from Acton, claims she was discriminated against and treated rudely at her interview in March and wrongly turned down for a job she was capable of doing because of her headscarf.

Ms Noah said today she had attended a total of 25 interviews for hairdressing jobs without success and had decided to take legal action because she had been upset by Ms Desrosiers' comments. She said: "I decided to sue this hairdresser because she upset me the most. I felt so down and got so depressed, I thought if I am not going to defend myself, who is?

"When I spoke to her on the phone she offered me a trial day. But when I turned up she looked at me in shock. She asked if I wore the headscarf all the time. She kept repeating, 'I wish you told me over the phone'.

"Ever since I was in high school hairdressing is what I wanted to do. It is sad for them to not give me the opportunity. This has ruined my ambitions. Wearing a headscarf is essential to my beliefs."

Ms Desrosiers said she was struggling to find money to contest the hearing, scheduled for January. She said: "I'm being dragged through the mud and pretty much accused of being a racist. I feel it is totally unfair and wrong."

I am going to send her a cheque.

mkpdavies · 09-11-2007, 04:25 PM

I heard her on LBC this a.m.

This country makes me sick sometimes. She is skint now because of this. What the **** has it got to do with anyone who she employs anyway. Even if she had dubious reasons for not employing her, so what. It's her business and being a very small business, she should be able to create an environment she is 100% comfortable with.

Why do people expect others to give them employment by right?

John Carter · 09-11-2007, 04:34 PM

Next up, a muzzer bird entering The Sun's Page 3 Idol* competition in full burqa and suing when she doesn't win it.

(* Warning: Lots of naked female upper torso. Do not click if offended.)

IceDragon · 09-11-2007, 06:24 PM

And they wonder why so few businesses want to employ them. Hah!

Haz · 09-11-2007, 06:36 PM

Iam sorry for saying this, but, WTF!? get rid of these rag-heads!

Mrs Angry · 09-11-2007, 06:54 PM

Yes, here go again - I woulnd't employ her either in my salon - a cheque will be way to Sarah - disgusting disgraceful and in MY beautiful country which is fast going the f**king pan because NO ONE in Politics will stand up. COME ON!!!!

Westcountryman · 09-11-2007, 06:57 PM

I agree that this sort of nonsense needs to stop, but could we not tar everyone in a particular group with the same brush?

Hopefully the Courts will chuck cases like this out or rule against them, setting good precedent for any future cases like this. I hope it makes it all the way to the Lords, hopefully then, providing the right decision is made, it will mark the end of ridiculous 'discrimination' cases such as this.

mkpdavies · 09-11-2007, 07:00 PM

I wish I had your optimism and faith.

Mrs Angry · 09-11-2007, 07:18 PM

Yeah so do I - thats what got us in this mess - doesn't anyone in this party/country have the b#lls to actually say what most of us are really thinking?

Mrs Angry · 09-11-2007, 07:26 PM

This issue got me so angry, really, really angry - I joined this forum. Can I stand for President? I am a hairdresser and Yoga teacher (Hatha which is westernised no sanskrit words that are impossible to pronounce and we do not understand). As a hairdresser I listen to loads of old ******** all day - as a Yoga teacher I haven't quite got to the point of Nirvana and allaying anger by chanting away the problems that are here and present affecting my life and livelihood. In fact I cannot embrace everyone in this world because they get on my bloody nerves with their whingeing and wiling about their religion and faith - GO BLOODY HOME - DO NOT LET ANYMORE IN

09-11-2007, 04:25 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	I heard her on LBC this a.m. This country makes me sick sometimes. She is skint now because of this. What the **** has it got to do with anyone who she employs anyway. Even if she had dubious reasons for not employing her, so what. It's her business and being a very small business, she should be able to create an environment she is 100% comfortable with. Why do people expect others to give them employment by right? __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

09-11-2007, 04:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
John Carter Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: On Sabbatical Posts: 5,110	Next up, a muzzer bird entering The Sun's Page 3 Idol* competition in full burqa and suing when she doesn't win it. (* Warning: Lots of naked female upper torso. Do not click if offended.) __________________ There are three kinds of people in this world: Libertarians, fascists, and those who haven't been paying attention.

09-11-2007, 06:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
Westcountryman Uber Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: The Westcountry. Posts: 5,922 Party: None	I agree that this sort of nonsense needs to stop, but could we not tar everyone in a particular group with the same brush? Hopefully the Courts will chuck cases like this out or rule against them, setting good precedent for any future cases like this. I hope it makes it all the way to the Lords, hopefully then, providing the right decision is made, it will mark the end of ridiculous 'discrimination' cases such as this. __________________ Manus haec inimica tyrannis ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam - "This hand of mine, which is hostile to tyrants, seeks by the sword quiet peace under liberty."

09-11-2007, 07:00 PM	#8 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 31,183 Party: Libertarian Party	I wish I had your optimism and faith. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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09-11-2007, 06:24 PM	#4 (permalink)
IceDragon Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 1,048	And they wonder why so few businesses want to employ them. Hah!

09-11-2007, 06:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Haz Newbie Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 8	Iam sorry for saying this, but, WTF!? get rid of these rag-heads!

09-11-2007, 06:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mrs Angry Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hersham Posts: 3	Yes, here go again - I woulnd't employ her either in my salon - a cheque will be way to Sarah - disgusting disgraceful and in MY beautiful country which is fast going the f**king pan because NO ONE in Politics will stand up. COME ON!!!!

09-11-2007, 07:18 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mrs Angry Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hersham Posts: 3	Yeah so do I - thats what got us in this mess - doesn't anyone in this party/country have the b#lls to actually say what most of us are really thinking?

09-11-2007, 07:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mrs Angry Newbie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hersham Posts: 3	This issue got me so angry, really, really angry - I joined this forum. Can I stand for President? I am a hairdresser and Yoga teacher (Hatha which is westernised no sanskrit words that are impossible to pronounce and we do not understand). As a hairdresser I listen to loads of old ******** all day - as a Yoga teacher I haven't quite got to the point of Nirvana and allaying anger by chanting away the problems that are here and present affecting my life and livelihood. In fact I cannot embrace everyone in this world because they get on my bloody nerves with their whingeing and wiling about their religion and faith - GO BLOODY HOME - DO NOT LET ANYMORE IN