Anti-Muslim Discrimination Alleged In Falls Church Job Interview

FALLS CHURCH, VA — A Muslim woman filed a lawsuit claiming a Falls Church area company discriminated against her by not hiring her.

Shahin Indorewala alleges discrimination based on her religion when she didn't get a job after requesting prayer breaks during a job interview at Fast Track, Inc. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) filed the lawsuit on Indorewala's behalf.

Indorewala said in a news conference Wednesday she had applied for a junior management position at Fast Trak Inc., a marketing agency, in September 2018. After coming in for a second interview, an assistant manager explained details about the role, including a two-hour lunch break. Indorewala replied by asking if she could substitute it for a shorter lunch break with two five-minute breaks to pray throughout the day.

At that point Indorewala claims the assistant manager ended the interview, explaining the company's fixed hours. They walked back to the front desk and met CEO Ramses Gavilondo, who Indorewala asked about the prayer break request. Indorewala accuses Gavilondo of pointing to her headscarf and making comments such as "religion, we don't want that here."

Gavilondo told NBC4 the reason Indorewala didn't get the job is because she "wanted to preach her religion." He claims the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found the company not in violation. NBC News reports that an EEOC spokesperson could not confirm that claim.

Indorewala said she was "shocked" and "humiliated" after that encounter. "Am I really being made fun of for my religion in public in what is supposed to be a professional workplace?" she said.

Indorewala works at the Center for Autism & Related Disorders, providing care to autistic children. She worked in marketing and applied for the Fast Track, Inc. position to gain additional experience, according to court documents.