Muslim worker sues over job loss

Termination said to be for “security reasons"

A Muslim engineer claims he was unfairly terminated from his job and his employer is justifying his dismissal by labeling him a security risk.

Nine days after terrorist attacks in the United States, Mohamed Attiah was stopped in the Chalk River parking lot of his employer, Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. A CSIS agent and RCMP officer questioned Attiah for more than 90 minutes. They apparently wanted to know about his religious practices and his alleged connections to others with possible terrorist connections.

When he returned to work following the interrogation, Attiah discovered that his access card no longer worked. His employer then advised him that he was fired because he was a security risk.

Attiah was a contract worker with ten days left on his contract when he was fired. However, his manager had allegedly assured him that he would have “indefinite” work with Atomic Energy of Canada.

Attiah has sued CSIS, the RCMP and his employer for unfairly profiling him as a security risk, based on his religion, background and “guilt by association.” He has also filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. He claims that he has never associated with any religious or political organization inside or outside of Canada. He is seeking damages of $5.5 million.

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