Muslim Girl Files Lawsuit

By Associated Press

Tulsa, OK – Teen alleges discrimination by retail giant

TULSA, Okla. (AP) A federal lawsuit filed against clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch alleges the manager at a Tulsa store refused to hire a 17-year-old Muslim girl because she wore a head scarf.

Attorneys for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the lawsuit Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tulsa.

The suit alleges Samantha Elauf applied for a sales position at the Abercrombie Kids store in the Woodland Hills Mall in Tulsa in June 2008. The teen, who wears a hijab, claims the manager told her the head scarf violates the store's "Look Policy."

A company spokeswoman declined to comment on the suit but says Abercrombie & Fitch has a strong equal employment opportunity policy and accomodates religious practices when possible.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.