Muslim girl, 16, complains after she was fired from lifeguard job for wearing bulky 'modesty' garment
The 16-year-old and her family claimed she was discriminated against and sent home from Philadelphia's Joan Kelly Pool for her religious attire on Thursday.
She was wearing a long-sleeve rash guard swim shirt and swim pants, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) legal director Adam Alaa Attia, who is representing the teen, told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
But the garment that caught flak from other staffers was a flowy outer layer 'for the times they are sitting on watch and not engaged in the water,' Attia explained.
This loose-fitting cover was attached to the swimsuit by a piece of velcro for easy removal.
While her swimwear aligned with lifeguard safety requirements, this extra layer got her axed, according to a CAIR press release.
'This young woman was prepared, professional and fully qualified,' Attia wrote in a statement.
'She was forced to choose between her faith and her employment - a choice no worker should ever have to make - especially in Philadelphia, where the Muslim community is foundational to the city's identity.'
The 16-year-old and her family claimed she was discriminated against and sent home from Philadelphia's Joan Kelly Pool (pictured) for her religious attire on Thursday
Attia claimed the girl, who wears a women's size small, was offered a men's 3XL cotton t-shirt and XL men's swim trunks instead.
'This alternative not only disregarded her religious beliefs and bodily autonomy but also undermined any claim that the issue was about fabric or safety,' the press release states.
'Cotton is not approved swim material, and loose, oversized clothing is a well-known drowning hazard.'
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson disputed the assertions that the girl and her family made, claiming she was 'accommodated' rather than 'discriminated against.'
'She was never asked to remove her rash guard. Her faith was never put into question,' Slawson told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
'What she did have on was a safety concern.'
Pool staff had asked the modestly dressed lifeguard to take off the 'cape' attached to her rash guard because it could be a hazard, Slawson said.
'You can't get in the pool with that on because you have to worry about someone getting caught in that guard and possibly drowning because they're caught in this long cape,' the commissioner elaborated.
'We weren't asking her to take off her Muslim attire at all. What we're asking for is for her to not put the cape on.'
While staffers deemed the velcroed fabric dangerous, lifeguards are allowed to wear hoodies and sweatpants over their bathing suits around the pool.
Conflicting with the teen's retelling of events, Slawson said the girl was not initially fired.
Slawson alleged she was paid for a full day of work and was told to come back the following day.
But after she said she was bringing her family along to confront her bosses, the work offer was retracted.
'We're not going to invite trouble,' Slawson asserted.
Slawson also accused the teen's family of showing up anyway - allegedly yelling swear words and racially-motivated comments at a black staff member.
To resolve this wardrobe-related conflict, Slawson, the teen's family and CAIR members have a meeting scheduled for Monday.
The CAIR is demanding a full investigation into the matter and a formal apology from the pool's employees, as well as for the teen to be given her job back.
The group is also calling for the city to mandate religious accommodations training and anti-discrimination policies for staff and supervisors.
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