Muslim flight attendant files discrimination complaint against ExpressJet

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Charee Stanley, who works for ExpressJet, has filed a discrimination complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
ExpressJet operates scheduled flights as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express
Company spokesman says they 'are an equal opportunity employer with a long history of diversity in our workforce'

Published: 23:22 EST, 5 September 2015 | Updated: 01:20 EST, 6 September 2015

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A Muslim flight attendant claims that she was suspended by her job for refusing to serve alcohol, which is against her religious beliefs.

Charee Stanley has filed a discrimination complaint against her employer, ExpressJet, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the revocation of a reasonable religious accommodation, CBS News reported.

Lena Masri, an attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Michigan, says that Stanley wants to do her job without serving alcohol in accordance with her Islamic faith.

Nearly three years ago, Stanley began working for the company who operates scheduled flights as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express.

Nearly three years ago, Charee Stanley began working for the ExpressJet, who operates scheduled flights as American Eagle, Delta Connection and United Express

About two years ago, she converted to Islam and learned this year that her faith prohibits her from not only consuming alcohol, but also serving it as well.

Masri told CNN that Stanley told her supervisor on June 1 and was told to work out an agreement with her coworkers for someone to fulfill passengers requests for alcohol on flights.

'It was at the direction of the airlines that she began coordinating with the other flight attendant on duty so that when a passenger requested alcohol, the other flight attendant would accommodate that request,' Masri told CNN.

'We know that this arrangement has worked beautifully and without incident and that it hasn't caused any undue burden on the airline. After all, it was the suggestion of the airline.'

Another flight attendant reportedly filed a complaint against Stanley in August claiming that she wasn't fulfilling her duties by refusing to serve alcohol.

Masri added that the employee's complaint said that 'Stanley had a book with foreign writings and wore a headdress,' CNN reported.

Stanley was sent a letter from the airline on August 25 stating that they were revoking its religious accommodation to exclude her from service of alcohol and placing her on administrative leave.

'We notified ExpressJet Airlines of its obligation under the law to reasonably accommodate Ms. Stanley's religious beliefs,' Masri said at a news conference on Tuesday.

'Instead, ExpressJet close to violate Ms. Stanely's constitutional rights, placed her on administrative leave for 12 months, after which her employment may be administratively terminated.'

Masri said that they have requested for her employment to be reinstated by the company and that they also reinstate her religious beliefs accommodations.

Charee Stanley has filed a discrimination complaint against her employer, ExpressJet, with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for the revocation of a reasonable religious accommodation

'I don't think that I should have to choose between practicing my religion properly or earning a living,' Stanley said at the Tuesday news conference.

'I shouldn't have to choose between one or the other because they're both important.'

A spokesman for ExpressJet declined to comment about Stanley's complaint.

'At ExpressJet, we embrace and respect the values of all of our team members,' airline spokesman Jarek Beem wrote in an email to CBS.

'We are an equal opportunity employer with a long history of diversity in our workforce.

'As Ms. Stanley is an employee, we are not able to comment on her personnel matters.'