Muslim flight attendant: I was suspended for not serving alcohol

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. -- A Muslim flight attendant filed 

a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

claiming she was suspended from her job for not serving alcohol, 

which is against her religious beliefs, 

CBS Detroit station WWJ-AM reports.

Lena Masri, an attorney for the Council on American-Islamic Relations Michigan, 
said Charee Stanley followed management's directions, working out an arrangement 
with her coworkers to accommodate passenger requests for alcohol.

However, Masri said, ExpressJet Airlines put Stanley on administrative leave 
after another attendant filed "an Islamophobic complaint" that referenced 
Stanley's head scarf.

"We notified ExpressJet Airlines of its obligation under the law to reasonably 
accommodate Ms. Stanley's religious beliefs," Masri said at a news conference 
in Farmington Hills on Tuesday. 
"Instead, ExpressJet close to violate Ms. Stanely's constitutional rights, 
placed her on administrative leave for 12 months, after which her employment 
may be administratively terminated."

Masri said the arrangement Stanley had with other attendants to serve 
alcohol for her had been working out fine since Stanley converted 
to Islam about a month after becoming a flight attendant for ExpressJet.

"I don't think that I should have to choose between practicing my religion 
properly or earning a living," Stanley said. "I shouldn't have to choose 
between one or the other because they're both important."

Contacted by WWJ-AM for comment, airline spokesman Jarek Beem 
responded with the following statement:

"At ExpressJet, we embrace and respect the values of all of our team members. 
We are an equal opportunity employer with a long history of diversity 
in our workforce. As Ms. Stanley is an employee, we are not able 
to comment on her personnel matters."

The Islamic-relations council is America's largest Muslim civil liberties 
and advocacy organization with the mission "to enhance the understanding 
of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower 
American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice 
and mutual understanding."

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