A Karachi-based software house, Creative Chaos, has reportedly asked a young, female employee to stop wearing Hijab at the office or resign from her position.
Notably, the employee had just started working with Creative Chaos. After a few days, her manager asked her to take off her hijab or leave the job.
The story surfaced from a Facebook post. According to a source, the reason behind this discriminatory behavior was that hijab would taint the image of the company as an ‘all-embracing workplace’.
Not only the manager but also the company’s chief executive defended this demand in a meeting with the discriminated employee. The said employee also stated that the CEO refused to say that in writing while asking her to resign.
Reportedly, he even recommended her to work at two Islamic banks. The employee also told the source that the CEO warned her not to initiate any legal action against the company.
The Facebook post has gone viral and prompted strong criticism from the social media users. The CEO confirmed the incident and also extended a public apology.
“Yesterday, a senior member of our staff asked a colleague to resign on unprofessional and unethical grounds,” says Jawwad Kadir. “She was told that her obligations may come in the way of her performance.”
He went on saying, “Not only is this action disgraceful but shows extremely poor moral judgment by her hiring manager. I take full responsibility for this failure and am deeply ashamed that a colleague was put through distress and trauma.”
He further added that the company has suspended the manager responsible for all this and a transparent inquiry has been ordered in this regard.
Not only this but also the said employee has been asked to withdraw her resignation and return to the office, he stated.
However, the statement did not mention the employee’s claim that he had also asked her to resign on the said grounds.
Update
Creative Chaos has issued a statement saying that the employee was apologized by the management with a request to her for reconsideration of the resignation.
Statement further said that the hiring manager and the CEO of the company were removed from their positions.
Below is the complete statement:
Via: Dawn.com
A very shameful act. Kudos to girl for speaking.
This happened in Pakistan. Wow no wonder it happens in other countries too.
pretty weird act if it’s for hijab… unless its the nigab in question which really is a different story!
seen many confused between niqab and hijab when talking about it. usually its the niqab that is bothersome.
not your decision to make, Its her decision either hijab or naqab and nobody can stop her at least not in Islamic Republic of Pakistan
absolutely yes, i can stop, you can stop anyone covering their faces in confined, private environment… on public, absolutely no one can!
please don’t confuse Islamic laws with personal belief’s.
I think you’re mistaken. May i remind you about the Security Implications this has? I’m all up for “it’s her decision and let her wear whatever she wants” but consider this, ANYONE can come inside the premises wearing a full “niqaab” (or whatever it’s called).
Also, there is a dress code to follow in all companies. Females can be given a little leniency and they can dress HOWEVER they want. As long as it doesn’t completely violates the rules of the place. I personally wouldn’t want a female employee whose face i can’t see in the workplace. How will you know who is sitting there and working?
This is an in appropriate reply by you MR @abobobilly:disqus because there is no issue of security if any women in the workplace cover her face due to their religious beliefs. Kindly don’t follow the ideology of Desi Liberals or Liberal Fascist who wants to enforce their thoughts on other people in the name of modernism.
Inappropriate interpretation by you, more like it. I’m not advocating against women’s right to “wear whatever they want”. As per their “religious beliefs”, they can also wear a head scarf to cover their head or choose loose clothes like full abya, without covering their face to ensure ‘modesty’.
I’m pretty sure no employer in Pakistan, in their right mind, would ask any female employee to remove such clothing ALTOGETHER. But if they only ask them to remove their “full faced veil”, i don’t see this is a big deal, unless one wants to make it one. Come to UAE. Women work in public offices wearing full abaya, but DON’T COVER THEIR FACES. But these women, when in public, are mostly in full abaya, also covering their faces. Get the difference?
That said, in this story, i’m pretty sure the facts are being blown out of proportions, just like our media does. (Recent Women Talaaq fiasco, Banning ride hailing services etc etc). So i’d avoid jumping to any conclusion unless more facts and personal statements are made available publically.
Mr @@abobobilly:disqus you are investing a lot of time in commenting to justify and defending your baseless ideology. Followers of this ideology is also called Desi Liberals. Please don’t make base of security risks to justify your ideology.
Please don’t play your “ideology” card on me. If you have some logic and arguments for my “baseless” statements, please come forward. I wonder why people like you just love to ‘tag’ other people in terms of religion, ideology or even their nationality.
I work in a software house and we have bio-metric attendance in order to enter the premises. If you’re so concerned about the security, introduce one. You have no right to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments (At least not in Pakistan).
apparently “all-embracing workplace” isn’t embracing. how stupid is that. shame on you manager
There is a difference in keeping your modesty covered with a Hijab and a full face veil. Sadly, many women don’t understand that in today’s society, keeping a full faced veil just won’t work as there are many security threats. Do i even need to mention how many such incidents have been reported in the past where men have been caught using full faced veil (full pathan-style burka)? (Anyone remember the Lal-Masjid incident where Molvi Sahab himself tried to flee wearing a full faced veil?)
So i’m pretty sure this is a similar act. I really don’t think management would have asked the lady to remove ‘hijab’. And considering our media which just loves to overblow any issue out of proportions, i’m almost certain this is being twisted into something else. But let’s see if we can see multiple statements from either side before judging.
Before anyone jumps to conclusion about my post as well, i am definitely not supportive of such incidents where employers have been found asking their female employees to remove Hijab or Dupatta or whatever.
I agree with you.
Niqab is different from burqa. No lady goes to work in (full pathan style) burqa. Those who wear niqab can be seen by females in HR before hiring.
Dear Mr @@abobobilly:disqus please don’t try to deceive people in the name security risks or whatever else.
Post 9/11 world isn’t what it was used to before. If you take such security threats as a joke, then you have COUNTLESS examples to learn from.
– Tomorrow if in a girls hostel, some guy enters wearing a Burka, would you be ok with it? How will you tell, if there is no security issue.
– Tomorrow, if some is caught planning an attack, but is doing surveillance wearing a burks. How will you tell it’s a women or a man?
Once again, women are free to wear whatever they want. But if a workplace asks to remove the face covering niqaab ONLY, it’s not a big deal. Because they’d still have the option to dress modestly, without affecting the workplace requirements.
Furthermore, as i said in my other comment … this story is most like blown out of proportions. We still don’t know if it was a “Hijab” they asked to remove, or a “Full faced Veil”. We still don’t know how true this story really is. So i’d avoid jumping to conclusions.
It’s a really shameful and disgusting act. I belong to this industry and usually think that IT belongs to performance, no matter who you are and how you looks like. But she is a strong girl, she should take some legal action against that company.
Agar hijab nahi pasand to dafa ho jao phir Pakistan se.
manhoos Log
Such news items make hiring women even more difficult.
I’m shocked ….. Information Technology (IT) is often regarded as the most inclusive and merit based industry in the world. In IT (In the West at least), nobody cares how you look, how you dress, what your beliefs are …. AS LONG AS YOU DELIVER!! If IT “professionals” in Pakistan are not going to judge the work of others on merit than IT will be just like an other corrupt, underperforming, lethargic, underachieving and uncompetitive industry in Pakistan.
I’m shocked ….. Information Technology (IT) is often regarded as the most inclusive and merit based industry in the world. In IT (In the West at least), nobody cares how you look, how you dress, what your beliefs are …. AS LONG AS YOU DELIVER!! If IT “professionals” in Pakistan are not going to judge the work of others on merit than IT will be just like an other corrupt, underperforming, lethargic, underachieving and uncompetitive industry in Pakistan.
Brave Women….
Can’t believe this is happening in pakistan.