Muslim woman told ‘not to bother applying’ for job because of hijab.

A Muslim woman went into a jewellery shop to hand in her CV – but was told ‘not to bother’ because of her hijab.
Mona Alfadli, 25, was hoping to apply for a sales assistant job at Steward Dawsons in Auckland last week.

But the manager immediately asked her if she would remove her hijab. When Mona said no, she was apparently told: ‘Don’t waste your time and don’t waste my time.’
‘I felt embarrassed as it took a lot of courage to walk into the shop and speak to the manager regarding a job, especially since I was afraid of the rejection,’ Mona told the NZ Herald.
Mona’s family settled in New Zealand as refugees from Kuwait in 2008. She finished her diploma in applied computer system engineering in November, and has been trying to find a job since then.
‘I can do any job, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘But I will keep my hijab, I will keep my identity, and respect my culture and my religion.’
She told the publication it was her dream to find work and help support her family.
According to the MailOnline, Stewart Dawsons responded: ‘We are extremely disappointed about the way Ms Mona Alfadli was treated and this by no means is reflective of the company’s policy.
‘Stewart Dawsons is an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on any grounds. We apologise sincerely to Ms Alfadli and have invited her back for a second interview.’

his is far from the first time a Muslim woman has been turned down for a retail position because of her hijab. Last year, Muslim-American woman Samantha Elauf successfully sued Abercrombie & Fitch when they refused to hire her because her headscarf apparently violated the company’s ‘look policy’.