Muslim Public Servants in the United States Federal Government, who said they were discriminated against under the previous Administration of President Donald Trump, want new laws against workplace bias.
Many are backing an initiative from the Muslim Americans in Public Service (MAPS) organisation aimed at getting the Administration of President Joe Biden to adopt measures that reflect the needs of Muslim Americans who work for Government Agencies.
The Public Servants say that while there are guidelines which allow Muslim employees to express grievances, for example through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), this can be a daunting process for any minority employee.
One study of data collected between 2012 and 2016 found that 63 per cent of Federal employees who brought a complaint to the EEOC eventually lost their jobs.
Chair of the MAPS, Ahmad Maaty said many Muslim families wanted their children to be doctors, lawyers or engineers.
“However, I think one of the goals of our organisation is to suggest that a career in the Public Service can be fulfilling and a career they can pursue without any prejudice caused by their faith,” Mr Maaty said.
“We want to encourage more Americans of all faiths to consider the Public Service,” he said.
Mr Maaty said he believed that Muslim-Americans have made important strides in recent years and applauded President Biden’s appointment of Zahid Quraishi as a Federal judge.
The MAPS Chair also pointed out that Muslims had served in the Federal Government since the 19th century and, if military service was included, since the War of Independence.
“All we want out of this initiative is to see Muslims welcome across the Federal Government and able to serve as any other individual,” he said.
Washington, 20 September 2021
