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A Muslim correctional officer in North Carolina is suing the state, saying he was discriminated against due to his race and religion after he was told he must shave his long beard.
Keith Hyman, a black Muslim who works works at Polk Correctional Institute north of Durham, also says a supervisor called him a racial slur.
In state and federal discrimination complaints Hyman filed Monday, he says he’s being targeted for retribution over his race, religion and gender. The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is representing Hyman.
“NCDPS engaged in racist, bigoted action and has set up Mr. Hyman to be fired for simply requesting a religious accommodation,” CAIR attorney Ahmed Mohamed said in a news release.