Friend-of-court brief supports Muslim womans right to wear headscarf

Seven national Orthodox Jewish groups filed a Supreme Court brief in favor of a Muslim woman’s right to wear a headscarf at work.

The brief was filed last week by Washington attorney Nathan Lewin in a case that is expected to be heard in February or March.

It deals with whether an applicant’s failure to provide explicit notice that she is a practicing Muslim who wears a headscarf at work allowed the clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch to reject her application as being in violation of the company dress code.

The National Jewish Commission on Law and Public Affairs, Agudas Harab-banim, Agudath Israel of America, National Council of Young Israel, Rabb-inical Alliance of America, Rabbinical Council of America and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America joined the friend-of-the-court brief. — jta