ACLU sues over government’s firing of WV Muslim couple

[davidinalameda]

http://www.wvgazette.com/section/News/Today/2004121327

The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a West Virginia Muslim couple, who say they were illegally fired from their jobs with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Morgantown.

The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court in Washington, D.C., on behalf of Aliakbar and Shahla Afshari, also names the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services. The Morgantown couple want back pay, reinstatement or the chance to appeal.

“The firings were an outrageous affront to the Afsharis, valued employees who ably performed their work,” Andrew Schneider, executive director of the ACLU of West Virginia, said Monday. “The Afsharis were terminated without notice, ostensibly because they failed a background check. But they have been denied any opportunity to respond or even to know what they’re supposed to have done.”

[Yuugal]

1. Did they vote republican?

If so they deserve whatever they get.

[davidinalameda]

2. they're not American citizens

they were fired on the basis of some Animal House type double secret probation security check and the feds refuse to tell them why they failed even though they both passed a check a few years ago

[LSdemocrat]

3. Umm, do you want your employer to care who you vote for?

[Yuugal]

4. that wasn't my beef

For this couple to move from Iran to WV and expect to be treated fairly is kind of silly since the American Taliban is almost as bad as the Islam version. Call me bitter, but I have a hard time caring when republicans get boned by their employers. If they are dems my advice to them is to move to a progressive state like NY. If they are repukes they can drown in the pool of injustice they voted for. If they are new here I have no sympathy at all since I have a lot of friends who were born here who can't get a decent job.

[LSdemocrat]

5. They've been in the country legally for 18 years

"The Afsharis, who are Shiite Muslims, immigrated from Iran 18 years ago to study at West Virginia University. They stayed in the community to build careers and raise three children. Both are lawful permanent residents."

[Yuugal]

6. they need to move

If they thought they would be appreciated in their community in WV(hahahaha) as Muslims and foreigners then they picked the wrong place in the wrong country. I'm not agreeing with what happened to them, I'm just being realistic. If I was a black, Jewish, gay, liberal women I wouldn't move to WV either. ;)