BALTIMORE — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a federal discrimination complaint against the Baltimore City Fire Department on behalf of a Muslim paramedic who was suspended for keeping a beard as part of his religious practice.
According to a statement, the suspension followed the employer’s refusal to grant a religious accommodation to the agency’s grooming policy. The complaint asks the EEOC to investigate, reinstate the paramedic with back pay and mandate policy changes and staff training.
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Othmane El Omari sought to maintain his facial hair in accordance with his religious beliefs since beginning his employment with the fire department. The complaint alleges that the department has repeatedly denied his accommodation requests, enforcing grooming policies in a discriminatory manner that has hindered his ability to work free from harassment and unequal treatment.
The department says its grooming policy is needed to ensure a proper respirator seal. But OSHA allows facial hair if an employee can pass a respirator fit test. The department has not administered a fit test to Omari and has instead enforced the policy against him.
The complaint states:
“Mr. El Omari expressly seeks a narrow accommodation from BCFD that OSHA itself contemplates, shaving only the sealing area and submitting to fit testing. Refusing even to conduct a fit test underscores that BCFD’s obstacle is its own rigid policy, not federal law. Any alleged difficulty arises solely from BCFD’s own policies and inaction.”
CAIR alleges that the department has allowed other EMS personnel and firefighters, including some supervisors, to keep facial hair without consequence and continue working safely.
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