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Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Saturday, February 09, 2008
Latinos grow in the suburbs; find new life, with some tensions
Niraj Warikoo writes about the growing Latino population in the suburbs, a nationwide trend. Some are finding peace, while others face racism. With immigration a hot topic, some feel they have been unfairly targted. Warikoo interviewed Latino families moving to the suburbs and leaders in the Catholic Church. Click here to read his story.
And click here to read an accompanying story by Niraj Warikoo on a white priest who has worked heard to reach out to his church's growing Spanish-speaking congregation in a suburb of Detroit.
And click here to read an accompanying story by Niraj Warikoo on a white priest who has worked heard to reach out to his church's growing Spanish-speaking congregation in a suburb of Detroit.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Legal immigrants can't get Driver's Licenses in Michigan
Niraj Warikoo writes about a new Michigan policy that doesn't allow legal immigrants here temporarily from getting driver's licenses. The new policy could affect up to 400,000 legal immigrants in Michigan. Warikoo interviewed state officials and business leaders about the controversial new policy. Click here to read Warikoo's report.
License ban hits legal workers
Changes could affect 400,000 in state
February 5, 2008
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Immigrants and business leaders across Michigan are concerned that a new state policy prohibiting legal temporary workers and students from getting driver's licenses will hurt the state's economy and drive away investment.
Attorney General Michael Cox ruled Dec. 27 that illegal immigrants can't get driver's licenses. But a little-noticed part of his ruling also said that temporary legal immigrants, too, are prohibited from getting driver's licenses.
Two weeks ago, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced the changes as a result of Cox's ruling and ordered her branch offices to prevent legal immigrants who are not in Michigan permanently from applying for licenses.
The changes could affect up to 400,000 temporary workers and students in Michigan, say business leaders.
Many of them are highly skilled workers who are needed to keep the state's economy going, said Sarah Hubbard, with the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Almost 15,000 students at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University also would be affected, she said.
Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer testified about the policy change Thursday in Lansing, saying it will hurt Michigan.
Also Monday, the state Senate transportation committee tentatively approved legislation, based on a proposal by Land, that would change the policy. It has yet to be approved by the full Senate and state House.
State Rep. Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, agrees the policy needs to be changed, but he and other legislators have some concerns about the bill Land supports. They said it would not cover all legal temporary immigrants.
Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for Land, said she hopes the legislation passes swiftly because the current policy "has the ability to affect so many different sectors of the economy."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS05/802050353
License ban hits legal workers
Changes could affect 400,000 in state
February 5, 2008
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Immigrants and business leaders across Michigan are concerned that a new state policy prohibiting legal temporary workers and students from getting driver's licenses will hurt the state's economy and drive away investment.
Attorney General Michael Cox ruled Dec. 27 that illegal immigrants can't get driver's licenses. But a little-noticed part of his ruling also said that temporary legal immigrants, too, are prohibited from getting driver's licenses.
Two weeks ago, Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land announced the changes as a result of Cox's ruling and ordered her branch offices to prevent legal immigrants who are not in Michigan permanently from applying for licenses.
The changes could affect up to 400,000 temporary workers and students in Michigan, say business leaders.
Many of them are highly skilled workers who are needed to keep the state's economy going, said Sarah Hubbard, with the Detroit Regional Chamber.
Almost 15,000 students at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University also would be affected, she said.
Former Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer testified about the policy change Thursday in Lansing, saying it will hurt Michigan.
Also Monday, the state Senate transportation committee tentatively approved legislation, based on a proposal by Land, that would change the policy. It has yet to be approved by the full Senate and state House.
State Rep. Steve Tobocman, D-Detroit, agrees the policy needs to be changed, but he and other legislators have some concerns about the bill Land supports. They said it would not cover all legal temporary immigrants.
Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for Land, said she hopes the legislation passes swiftly because the current policy "has the ability to affect so many different sectors of the economy."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080205/NEWS05/802050353
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Imam Hassan Qazwini writes a new book on Islam and America
Imam Hassan Qazwini, head of one of the largest mosques in the U.S., has written a new book published by Random House. Niraj Warikoo interviewed Imam Hassan Qazwini and wrote a story about the new book, which details Qazwini's meetings with top leaders, including Presidnet George W. Bush. Click here to read Niraj Warikoo's story on Imam Qazwini.
Sharing his story
Muslim cleric writes a book about Islam and his family's suffering in Iraq
December 31, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Born into a prestigious Iraqi family descended from Islam's prophet, Imam Hassan Qazwini started life anew when he moved to the United States in 1992.
He knew little English, was unfamiliar with American culture and uncertain about his future.
But now, Qazwini of Dearborn heads one the largest U.S. mosques -- the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn -- and has become a nationally known figure who has advised President George W. Bush, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Muslims from metro Detroit to Baghdad.
His compelling life story -- with details about his influence with top leaders -- is told in a book he wrote that was published recently by Random House.
Titled "American Crescent," the memoir starts with his family's suffering at the hands of Saddam Hussein's regime and how some of them escaped to Kuwait, including Qazwini.
From there Qazwini moved to Iran in 1980, and then to California with the blessing of his father, a major Shi'ite Muslim cleric. In 1997, Qazwini became the imam at the Islamic Center, which was in Detroit.
The idea for the book came out of his efforts to reach non-Muslims after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"My main goal was to educate non-Muslim readers about Islam," said Qazwini, 43. "We have been witnessing widespread misconceptions about our faith. ... We've been bombarded with negative views about Islam."
"If you want to learn about Islam," he writes in the book, "turn off the TV."
Also in the book Qazwini describes meetings with Bush, including one in 2000 that was held weeks before the presidential election. Qazwini writes that Bush told him and others at the meeting that it was wrong to stereotype Muslims as extremists.
Bush also talked about his love of Lebanese food, Qazwini wrote, and said there was no division between Muslims and Christians.
"There are some Muslims who create trouble, but the majority are good people, just as there are some Christians who create trouble even though most are good," Qazwini quoted Bush as saying. "People talk of Muslim extremists? Come with me to Texas, and I'll show you the Christian extremists."
In the same meeting, Qazwini said he asked Bush to name a liaison to the Muslim community if he were to be elected. Bush replied that he would appoint Spencer Abraham, a Lebanese-American Christian who was then a U.S. senator from Michigan.
"He will be your key to the White House," Qazwini wrote, quoting Bush.
After the election, Bush named Abraham as his secretary of energy.
"The president had kept his word," Qazwini wrote.
But despite Qazwini's influence, he -- like some other Muslim Americans -- still suffers from religious profiling. He writes that he's been questioned at random by federal agents in airports and at the U.S.-Canada border, faulting the U.S. Patriot Act for allowing such bias.
Iraq is a major theme in the book, as are Sunni-Shi'ite relations. In one chapter, Qazwini recalls when a group of visitors from Saudi Arabia refused to pray in his Dearborn mosque because it was Shi'ite.
Qazwini's grandfather, a respected Shi'ite cleric, was killed during Hussein's regime. After Hussein's government was overthrown in 2003, Qazwini's father, Ayatollah Sayed Mortadha Qazwini, returned to his hometown of Karbala, Iraq, to preach again near the shrine of Imam Husayn, a Muslim leader slain centuries ago who is revered by Shi'ites.
In an emotional passage in the book, Qazwini remembers returning to Husayn's shrine in 2005 after 26 years.
"As I entered ... his presence overpowered me," Qazwini wrote. "I felt a ... rapture bordering on paralysis. For some time I wept in peace before his tomb."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS05/712310378
Sharing his story
Muslim cleric writes a book about Islam and his family's suffering in Iraq
December 31, 2007
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Born into a prestigious Iraqi family descended from Islam's prophet, Imam Hassan Qazwini started life anew when he moved to the United States in 1992.
He knew little English, was unfamiliar with American culture and uncertain about his future.
But now, Qazwini of Dearborn heads one the largest U.S. mosques -- the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn -- and has become a nationally known figure who has advised President George W. Bush, Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Muslims from metro Detroit to Baghdad.
His compelling life story -- with details about his influence with top leaders -- is told in a book he wrote that was published recently by Random House.
Titled "American Crescent," the memoir starts with his family's suffering at the hands of Saddam Hussein's regime and how some of them escaped to Kuwait, including Qazwini.
From there Qazwini moved to Iran in 1980, and then to California with the blessing of his father, a major Shi'ite Muslim cleric. In 1997, Qazwini became the imam at the Islamic Center, which was in Detroit.
The idea for the book came out of his efforts to reach non-Muslims after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"My main goal was to educate non-Muslim readers about Islam," said Qazwini, 43. "We have been witnessing widespread misconceptions about our faith. ... We've been bombarded with negative views about Islam."
"If you want to learn about Islam," he writes in the book, "turn off the TV."
Also in the book Qazwini describes meetings with Bush, including one in 2000 that was held weeks before the presidential election. Qazwini writes that Bush told him and others at the meeting that it was wrong to stereotype Muslims as extremists.
Bush also talked about his love of Lebanese food, Qazwini wrote, and said there was no division between Muslims and Christians.
"There are some Muslims who create trouble, but the majority are good people, just as there are some Christians who create trouble even though most are good," Qazwini quoted Bush as saying. "People talk of Muslim extremists? Come with me to Texas, and I'll show you the Christian extremists."
In the same meeting, Qazwini said he asked Bush to name a liaison to the Muslim community if he were to be elected. Bush replied that he would appoint Spencer Abraham, a Lebanese-American Christian who was then a U.S. senator from Michigan.
"He will be your key to the White House," Qazwini wrote, quoting Bush.
After the election, Bush named Abraham as his secretary of energy.
"The president had kept his word," Qazwini wrote.
But despite Qazwini's influence, he -- like some other Muslim Americans -- still suffers from religious profiling. He writes that he's been questioned at random by federal agents in airports and at the U.S.-Canada border, faulting the U.S. Patriot Act for allowing such bias.
Iraq is a major theme in the book, as are Sunni-Shi'ite relations. In one chapter, Qazwini recalls when a group of visitors from Saudi Arabia refused to pray in his Dearborn mosque because it was Shi'ite.
Qazwini's grandfather, a respected Shi'ite cleric, was killed during Hussein's regime. After Hussein's government was overthrown in 2003, Qazwini's father, Ayatollah Sayed Mortadha Qazwini, returned to his hometown of Karbala, Iraq, to preach again near the shrine of Imam Husayn, a Muslim leader slain centuries ago who is revered by Shi'ites.
In an emotional passage in the book, Qazwini remembers returning to Husayn's shrine in 2005 after 26 years.
"As I entered ... his presence overpowered me," Qazwini wrote. "I felt a ... rapture bordering on paralysis. For some time I wept in peace before his tomb."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071231/NEWS05/712310378
Muslims concerned about campaign talk by Presidential candidates
Niraj Warikoo writes about the concerns of Muslim-Americans about political talk on the campaign trail they say attacks their religion. Sen. John McCain recently made fun of a style of Muslim dress even though McCain's daughter is from a Muslim country, Bangladesh. Warikoo spoke with Muslims and interviewed Sen. McCain at a rally about the concerns of Muslims. Click here to read Niraj Warikoo's story.
ELECTION 2008
Political ads make Muslims uneasy
Campaigns sound bigoted, some say
January 13, 2008
By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Victor Ghalib Begg has long been an active Republican. The 60-year-old furniture store owner from Bloomfield Hills campaigned hard for President George W. Bush and former Gov. John Engler, cutting them and other Republicans numerous fat checks over the years.
But as the race for president heats up, he has become disturbed by what he sees as growing anti-Muslim rhetoric from candidates.
"They're all falling over each other to demonize Muslims and Islam," Begg said. "They're trying to appeal to the power of prejudice and hate. ... And it's brainless. Everybody knows we have a problem with terrorism. Let's focus on how to deal with it, instead of focusing on a faith or a people."
It's a view shared by many in Michigan's sizable Muslim and Arab-American communities. As the Republican candidates campaign in the state in advance of Tuesday's primary, local Muslims are closely watching the race. But they feel under siege as candidates scramble to bolster their national security credentials with words Muslims say slander their religion.
In a recent TV ad for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, images of angry Muslim men and women appear on screen with a voice-over warning of "a people perverted."
Sen. John McCain of Arizona told the Free Press last month that "the challenge of radical Islam" is what drives him to run. And in a campaign video, McCain declares: "The transcendent issue of the 21st Century is the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. "
Begg and others say they have no problems with talk of fighting terrorists, but argue that Republican candidates are consistently equating Islam with terrorism and crossing the line into bigotry. During last Thursday night's debate in South Carolina, for example, McCain said:
"I'm not interested in trading with Al Qaeda. All they want to trade is burqas," he quipped, referring to a type of dress some Muslim women wear.
Local Muslims say that criticizing Al Qaeda is legitimate, but wonder why he would make a snide remark. The remark was especially bothersome, some said, considering that McCain's adopted daughter, Bridget McCain, is from a Muslim country, Bangladesh.
"Bashing Muslims excites certain kinds of bases," said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab-American News in Dearborn.
McCain said Saturday after a rally in Clawson that he respects Islam. "I want to assure the Muslim community in Michigan and around this country that we respect an honorable religion," he said.
Muslims are especially bothered by Giuliani, who has hired advisers they say are prejudiced against them.
Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney suggested last year he probably would rule out a Muslim cabinet member. And some of the candidates repeatedly have used terms like "Islamo-fascism" during debates, which Muslims say is an absurd phrase that wrongly equates their religion with tyranny.
"Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life," former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says on his Web site. "They have sworn to annihilate each of us who believe in a free society, all in the name of a perversion of religion and an impersonal god."
The tone this election season is a marked change from eight years ago, when Republican candidate George W. Bush actively courted the Muslim and Arab vote in Michigan.
Siblani, who once backed Bush, remembers watching with excitement when the future president said during a national debate with then-Vice President Al Gore that Arab Americans were being unfairly profiled.
Twenty years ago, some Republicans used TV ads that denigrated African Americans -- such as the infamous Willie Horton ad run by former President George Bush.
Now, Muslims say, they are the scapegoats.
"Most of it is based on demagoguery, an easy way to score political points," said Tarek Baydoun, 23, of Dearborn.
The head of the Michigan Republican Party, Saul Anuzis, says that Muslims -- because of their religiosity, family values and belief in small government -- are natural fits for his party. He's concerned that some may be offended by the talk on the campaign trail.
Anuzis defended the major Republican candidates, saying they have drawn distinctions between jihadists and all Muslims. But he acknowledged the concerns of Muslims and immigrants.
"There is an apprehension because of the political rhetoric," Anuzis said. "And sometimes, being sloppy with the vocabulary ... we have to be more careful in how we talk ... because the overwhelming majority of Muslims are good people."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or n warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS15/801130615
ELECTION 2008
Political ads make Muslims uneasy
Campaigns sound bigoted, some say
January 13, 2008
By NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
Victor Ghalib Begg has long been an active Republican. The 60-year-old furniture store owner from Bloomfield Hills campaigned hard for President George W. Bush and former Gov. John Engler, cutting them and other Republicans numerous fat checks over the years.
But as the race for president heats up, he has become disturbed by what he sees as growing anti-Muslim rhetoric from candidates.
"They're all falling over each other to demonize Muslims and Islam," Begg said. "They're trying to appeal to the power of prejudice and hate. ... And it's brainless. Everybody knows we have a problem with terrorism. Let's focus on how to deal with it, instead of focusing on a faith or a people."
It's a view shared by many in Michigan's sizable Muslim and Arab-American communities. As the Republican candidates campaign in the state in advance of Tuesday's primary, local Muslims are closely watching the race. But they feel under siege as candidates scramble to bolster their national security credentials with words Muslims say slander their religion.
In a recent TV ad for former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, images of angry Muslim men and women appear on screen with a voice-over warning of "a people perverted."
Sen. John McCain of Arizona told the Free Press last month that "the challenge of radical Islam" is what drives him to run. And in a campaign video, McCain declares: "The transcendent issue of the 21st Century is the struggle against radical Islamic extremism. "
Begg and others say they have no problems with talk of fighting terrorists, but argue that Republican candidates are consistently equating Islam with terrorism and crossing the line into bigotry. During last Thursday night's debate in South Carolina, for example, McCain said:
"I'm not interested in trading with Al Qaeda. All they want to trade is burqas," he quipped, referring to a type of dress some Muslim women wear.
Local Muslims say that criticizing Al Qaeda is legitimate, but wonder why he would make a snide remark. The remark was especially bothersome, some said, considering that McCain's adopted daughter, Bridget McCain, is from a Muslim country, Bangladesh.
"Bashing Muslims excites certain kinds of bases," said Osama Siblani, publisher of the Arab-American News in Dearborn.
McCain said Saturday after a rally in Clawson that he respects Islam. "I want to assure the Muslim community in Michigan and around this country that we respect an honorable religion," he said.
Muslims are especially bothered by Giuliani, who has hired advisers they say are prejudiced against them.
Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney suggested last year he probably would rule out a Muslim cabinet member. And some of the candidates repeatedly have used terms like "Islamo-fascism" during debates, which Muslims say is an absurd phrase that wrongly equates their religion with tyranny.
"Radical Islamic fascists have declared war on our country and our way of life," former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee says on his Web site. "They have sworn to annihilate each of us who believe in a free society, all in the name of a perversion of religion and an impersonal god."
The tone this election season is a marked change from eight years ago, when Republican candidate George W. Bush actively courted the Muslim and Arab vote in Michigan.
Siblani, who once backed Bush, remembers watching with excitement when the future president said during a national debate with then-Vice President Al Gore that Arab Americans were being unfairly profiled.
Twenty years ago, some Republicans used TV ads that denigrated African Americans -- such as the infamous Willie Horton ad run by former President George Bush.
Now, Muslims say, they are the scapegoats.
"Most of it is based on demagoguery, an easy way to score political points," said Tarek Baydoun, 23, of Dearborn.
The head of the Michigan Republican Party, Saul Anuzis, says that Muslims -- because of their religiosity, family values and belief in small government -- are natural fits for his party. He's concerned that some may be offended by the talk on the campaign trail.
Anuzis defended the major Republican candidates, saying they have drawn distinctions between jihadists and all Muslims. But he acknowledged the concerns of Muslims and immigrants.
"There is an apprehension because of the political rhetoric," Anuzis said. "And sometimes, being sloppy with the vocabulary ... we have to be more careful in how we talk ... because the overwhelming majority of Muslims are good people."
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at 248-351-2998 or n warikoo@freepress.com.
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080113/NEWS15/801130615
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Warikoo writes about an Iraqi-American racially harassed at work
Warikoo writes about the case of an Iraqi-American bus mechanic who was repeatedly harassed at work because of his ethnicity. Click here to read the story of Mazyn Barash. Warikoo attended the civil rights hearing on Jan. 31, 2008 and wrote about it.
Employee testifies of racial abuse at hearing
January 31, 2008
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
A mechanic with SMART testified Thursday at a civil rights hearing that one of his co-workers was racially abused at work because of his ethnicity. And he claimed that supervisors did not move to stop or investigate the abuse.
Joseph Mathis, who works for the metro bus system SMART, said at a hearing in Detroit that one co-worker said racial insults such as "raghead" and "towelhead" in front of a co-worker who was an Iraqi-American.
At other times, the co-worker made violent remarks about Iraqis, said "Where's my camel?" and would sing "I'm Ahab, the A-rab," Mathis said.
Mathis' testimony was part of a hearing Thursday at the Michigan Civil Rights Commission over a complaint filed by Mazyn (Mike) Barash, of Farmington Hills.
After the hearing is over, a hearing officer will make a recommendation on the case to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which will then rule on the claim of Barash. The commission has the authority to order compensatory damages.
Barash, a bus mechanic at SMART who is an Iraqi-American Chaldean, said he was repeatedly harassed at work because of his ethnicity and national background. The harassment got worse after the start of the Iraq war.
At one time, the employee said of Barash that "he would like to see him all blown up," Mathis said.
At another time, the worker said of Iraqis:
"I wish they would blow that thing up off the earth already."
When Mathis and others complained, they were called "a bunch of Iraqi lovers," by an employee.
Mathis said that managers ignored his complaints.
"Our complaints we took to management were never dealt with," he said.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights found sufficient evidence in Barash's complaint to hold a hearing on the case.
Avery Gordon, general counsel for SMART, said he could not comment on the specific case. But he stressed that SMART does not allow discrimination and takes seriously any allegations of bias.
"We don't tolerate discriminatory behavior," Gordon said. "We have policies and procedures in place that prohibit discriminatory behavior should it occur."
Gordon said that SMART has an internal program that allows SMART employees to report allegations of abuse anonymously through a phone number.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at warikoo@freepress.com
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NEWS05/80131075
Employee testifies of racial abuse at hearing
January 31, 2008
BY NIRAJ WARIKOO
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
A mechanic with SMART testified Thursday at a civil rights hearing that one of his co-workers was racially abused at work because of his ethnicity. And he claimed that supervisors did not move to stop or investigate the abuse.
Joseph Mathis, who works for the metro bus system SMART, said at a hearing in Detroit that one co-worker said racial insults such as "raghead" and "towelhead" in front of a co-worker who was an Iraqi-American.
At other times, the co-worker made violent remarks about Iraqis, said "Where's my camel?" and would sing "I'm Ahab, the A-rab," Mathis said.
Mathis' testimony was part of a hearing Thursday at the Michigan Civil Rights Commission over a complaint filed by Mazyn (Mike) Barash, of Farmington Hills.
After the hearing is over, a hearing officer will make a recommendation on the case to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission, which will then rule on the claim of Barash. The commission has the authority to order compensatory damages.
Barash, a bus mechanic at SMART who is an Iraqi-American Chaldean, said he was repeatedly harassed at work because of his ethnicity and national background. The harassment got worse after the start of the Iraq war.
At one time, the employee said of Barash that "he would like to see him all blown up," Mathis said.
At another time, the worker said of Iraqis:
"I wish they would blow that thing up off the earth already."
When Mathis and others complained, they were called "a bunch of Iraqi lovers," by an employee.
Mathis said that managers ignored his complaints.
"Our complaints we took to management were never dealt with," he said.
The Michigan Department of Civil Rights found sufficient evidence in Barash's complaint to hold a hearing on the case.
Avery Gordon, general counsel for SMART, said he could not comment on the specific case. But he stressed that SMART does not allow discrimination and takes seriously any allegations of bias.
"We don't tolerate discriminatory behavior," Gordon said. "We have policies and procedures in place that prohibit discriminatory behavior should it occur."
Gordon said that SMART has an internal program that allows SMART employees to report allegations of abuse anonymously through a phone number.
Contact NIRAJ WARIKOO at warikoo@freepress.com
Find this article at:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080131/NEWS05/80131075
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