Small business owner sued for discrimination over headscarf

10 11 2007 United Kingdom

The owner of a hairdressing business is being sued for religious discrimination by a stylist who wanted to wear a Muslim headscarf at work.

Sarah Desrosiers, who runs a north London hair salon specialising in “urban funky" styles, says she turned down a job applicant because she needed her stylists to display their hairstyles when they were at work.

Bushra Noah, 19, is bringing a case of religious discrimination before an employment tribunal, claiming that her headscarf is essential to her Muslim beliefs and would not affect her work. She is suing Ms Desrosiers for an unspecified sum for lost earnings and £15,000 for injury to her feelings.

According to BBC London, Ms Noah said, "I'm hoping for her to understand that she can't get away with treating people like that.”

Ms Desrosiers insisted that refusing the job to Ms Noah was not about religion and denied that discrimination was involved.

"I sell image," Ms Desrosiers told the Evening Standard. "It's very important and I would expect a hair stylist to display her hair because I need people to be drawn in off the street.

"It's the nature and style of my salon that brings people in and someone having their hair covered conflicts with that,” she said. "If someone came in wearing a baseball hat or a cowboy hat, I'd tell them to take it off while they're working.”

Ms Desrosiers, 32, started the Wedge hair salon in King's Cross 18 months ago. She said she would have to defend the claim, but she was worried that her business might be threatened if the case went against her.

The case is due to be heard by an Employment Tribunal in January.

You can visit the Wedge website - Click here (page opens in a new window)

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