Federal lawsuit: Ex-Washtenaw County employee claims discrimination after Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks
A former Washtenaw County employee is alleging in a federal lawsuit that his co-workers discriminated against him for years after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, calling him a terrorist and bin Laden to his face.
Ali Aboubaker, 53, of Ann Arbor, a former maintenance technician and bus driver, is suing the county, his former supervisor Richard Farrell and a former manager of his department David Shirley.
The suit, filed Wednesday in federal court in Detroit, alleges racial and religious discrimination and violations of Aboubaker’s civil and free speech rights. It seeks an unspecified amount of money.
Attorney Tom Wurst, who is representing the county, said the county disagrees with the facts as alleged and will vigorously defend the suit because it is without merit.
Aboubaker is an Arab-American and black Muslim of Tunisian origin. He claims he was fired in 2008 around the same time he filed a complaint about the harassment with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Aboubaker started working for the county on Sept. 30, 1991, and "faced severe harassment" after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from his supervisors and co-workers based on his race, religion and national origin, the suit says. It continued up until he was terminated, he claims.
For instance, one of supervisors, who is not being sued, reportedly called him a terrorist, Osama, bin Laden and al Qaeda to his face, along with his co-workers. According to the suit, Aboubaker pleaded with his supervisors for the harassment to stop, but it didn't.
The suit also claims that Aboubaker's supervisors interfered with his midday prayer time and Friday worship and that he was passed over for jobs in favor of white colleagues, who were sometimes less-qualified.
Farrell declined comment, saying he hasn't seen the suit.
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
elise jones
Thu, Sep 1, 2011 : 6:27 p.m.
I have worked for Washtenaw County and it is the most racist place I have ever worked. If you look at the jobs minorties have versus non minorities, the minorities have mostly support positions and hardly any minorities in Management. Most of the key positions are held by whites. The County at one time reimbursed tuition at 50% but would never hire the minority employees that they paid tuition for when employee graduates. There is still a lot of racisim going on at Washtenaw County.
Ellen
Sat, Jul 16, 2011 : 1:44 a.m.
Oh pul-leze. Yes, it MUST be some greedy person "playing the race card". That could NEVER happen here.
Don Garrett
Fri, Jul 15, 2011 : 2:34 a.m.
I do know a few county employees and this doesn't seem plausible from my conversations with them. Co-worker harassment is one thing but at this level and the supervisors and managers allowing this to happen and participating???? This might be a case of someone looking for a payday by playing the race card or race cards I guess cover all the bases.
Lola
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 5:41 p.m.
It seems to me that this lawsuit was not filed in a timely fashion. What's up with that?
Roadman
Mon, Jul 18, 2011 : 10:38 p.m.
Under the "continuing-violation doctrine" as long as some discriminatory conduct is perpetrated within a three-year "window" preceding the filing date of the lawsuit, a civil rights plaintiff can still maintain an action that is not time-barred.
Joe Kidd
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 7:48 p.m.
I believe you have three years. If he was fired in 2008 he may be in under the limit.
Bogie
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 5:10 p.m.
I use to live in the south, and do remember a co-worker being harassed. He was a converted muslim, but to hear that kind of behavior from Ann Arbor; does sound a little irregular. I just hope the truth comes out, and if there wasn't any harassment; can the city sue for legal cost?
demistify
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 3:51 p.m.
"Aboubaker is an Arab-American and black Muslim of Tunisian origin." There is a confusing excess of descriptors here. Why is the word "black" inserted? It does not appear to have anything to do with the story. The only way it would make sense is if "black Muslim" is meant to identify him as not a conventional Muslim but a member of Louis Farrakhan's "Nation of Islam" sect. Lee Higgins, please clarify.
bedrog
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 6:58 p.m.
absolutely right...a very sketchy to careless description since "BLACK MUSLIMS" ( ala farrakhan , early malcolm x, elijah mohammed) have little to do with middle eastern Islam---despite it's varieties.
Michisbest
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
So this guy is suing for something that hasn't happened yet? The article says Sept 11 2011.
Michigan Man
Thu, Jul 14, 2011 : 3:22 p.m.
This account seems abbreviated and cannot be the full story. Regardless of the quality of reporting and given our current environment, it does seem like a lawsuit is embedded in this matter. What happened to the diversity tolerance level in Washtenaw County and Ann Arbor?