Company to pay woman for prohibiting her from wearing religious scarf

ST. LOUIS -- A suburban St. Louis collection company agreed to pay $65,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former employee, a Muslim woman who claimed she was fired for refusing to remove a religious head scarf.

The suit was filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Mariam Soultan, who formerly worked at Client Services Inc. in St. Charles, Mo. The agreement requires a revised dress code policy for the company, informing employees of the right to religious accommodation.

EEOC says Soultan was told no exceptions could be made to a dress code prohibiting head wear. She asked to be allowed to wear the scarf required by her religion.

A phone message left with the company was not returned.