Ex-SRS worker sues for discrimination 10/29/2009 8:53 PM By MIKE GELLATLY Staff writer
A former Savannah River Site employee claims he suffered racial and religious discrimination at the hands of his coworkers.
Al Zeiny, 41, formerly of Aiken, now living in California, was lead structural engineer at Washington Safety Management Solutions LLC (WSMS), where he was employed from Jan. 7, 2007, until Oct. 8, 2009.
Zeiny filed a lawsuit against his former employer on Wednesday in the Aiken division of the U.S. District Court, claiming he was denigrated and humiliated because of his religious beliefs.
According to the complaint, he was described as the "scary guy" who coworkers said was linked with terrorism and bombmaking after a conversation about Zeiny being a practicing Muslim.
"After (the) plaintiff requested a private place at work to perform two of the five daily Muslim prayers, his coworkers started ridiculing and insulting him," the complaint reads. "The office atmosphere changed dramatically, and (the) plaintiff's coworkers became very hostile and suspicious."
A native of Egypt, Zeiny states that employees said he came from a "corrupt culture" and was "not a full American." He said that his work was sabotaged and he was monitored unfairly.
Zeiny claims he was fired from WSMS three days after he filed a complaint about his coworkers' activities. He said that a separate story of why he was terminated circulated - that he refused to translate an e-mail sent to the Department of Energy in Arabic and that he had unauthorized software on a computer.
He also claims that individuals from WSMS contacted his current employer and "made false statements concerning the reason" Zeiny was fired.
After he left, Zeiny also alleges that his computer was sent to "Counter Intelligence and to the FBI" because he was considered a possible terrorist suspect by coworkers because he was of Middle Eastern descent and followed Islam.
WSMS is part of the Washington Group of URS Corp. and has been the safety watchdog for them at SRS for the past six years.
A spokesman for URS said that they do not comment on personnel issues or legal matters.
Zeiny graduated with a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of California Irvine in 1995. After that, he spent time in academia teaching and researching, and was a consulting engineer before beginning work in Aiken for Parsons in January 2005. He held that position for 13 months before moving to WSMS.
The lawsuit makes no specific monetary demands but attacks WSMS on four fronts, claiming that he was subject to a hostile work environment, was discriminated against and suffered defamation and that his employer sought to retaliate against him after he complained.
A civil complaint is only the opening salvo in the case and offers only one view of events.
Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: Seen that before On: Monday, November 02, 2009 2:28 PM
Comment Title: Some Basic Facts !!
This Man is qualified for his job. He has a Ph.D in his area of specialty. Obviously, he was the most promising candidate for the post to get the job. As Far as I know, Muslim prayer does not take more than 5 minute in duration. So, in total of two daily prayer it takes only 10minutes of his working time. Hardly a factor for the employer. Most of the time, employer provide the employee an empty place for praying for 10min.(usually an meeting room). But, things are just to much of racist at his work place as its seems like.
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Posted by: MY Muslim On: Monday, November 02, 2009 1:41 PM
Comment Title: To the hateful "Christian" bigots
For all the Christians claiming they alone own America, I wonder what religion they think Native Americans like myself believe in? What about all of the Muslim slaves, many who arrived here centuries before most European immigrants? It is these Johnny-come-latelys who should go back to where THEY came from and stop trying to oppress others with their arrogance and false sense of superiority! Anyone celebrating Thanksgiving without thanking God/Allah for those gracious Native Americans who saved the first European colonists from starvation? Eat turkey, don't be one! Be humble and thankful to be alive and living in America, the land of the free.
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Posted by: Giovani Rabin On: Monday, November 02, 2009 1:32 PM
Comment Title: Dumb asses
My the world is filled with dumbasses. The reason the pilgrims fled was because of religion and the way the monarchy was using as they did before. I studied a Princeton and in general educated views are that America was based defunct of religious influence and that was to prevent the Elite from coming here and ruling in that premise. The founding fathers made a point not to include religion because eventually Christians would fight amontgts themshelves saying well it's a Roman Catholic country...or an Anglican country and so sorth....cause at the end of the day you religious fools are so stupid...a Roman Catholic and a Protestant has two totally different belief systems. It's like saying Jews and Chrsitians are the same??? how can that be because without the Jews killing Jesus there would never be Chrsitians and Anglo Saxons would most likely still be PAGAN worshippers...at the end of the day you are all fools and you will all toil in hell..which happens to be a box in the ground and nothing more...and heaven...anothe box in the ground...the difference is that it's Heaven if you enjoyed your life and Hell if you wasted it with trying to figure out which religion is right cause all every religion is is simple guidelines cause man can't figure out what is right and wrong...just as Paul changed the Ten Commnadment althoug Jesus didn't do that...a anglo saxon who fought againts Chritianity became the teahcer and a person who could alter Jesus txts...to me that is like Hitler re writtuing the Torah and Jews following it.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 5:10 PM
Comment Title:
Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. A great example of the Deist philosophy
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Posted by: Bri On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 3:29 PM
Comment Title:
Weren't the pilgrims of this country escaping their OLD country because of religious persecution? Now I don't think that this is a "christian" nation, I believe this nation was founded by those who just wanted to worship as they please, and who they please, without punishment. There is no RIGHT faith... because everyone believes theirs is the right one. We'll find out one day won't we?
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Posted by: On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 2:08 PM
Comment Title:
"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor". Divine Providence, or simply Providence, is what believers see as the sovereignty, superintendence, or agency of God over events in people's lives and throughout ."We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions" "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor." When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation
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Posted by: Bruce On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 1:29 PM
Comment Title:
Your Wiki stats are nice American, but you still have not provided on shred of evidence that America is founded on the Christian belief, show me the evidence.
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Posted by: American No Hyphen On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 11:01 AM
Comment Title: Re:bruce
The signers of the Declaration of Independence were a profoundly intelligent, religious and ethically-minded group. Four of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were current or former full-time preachers, and many more were the sons of clergymen. Other professions held by signers include lawyers, merchants, doctors and educators. These individuals, too, were for the most part active churchgoers and many contributed significantly to their churches both with contributions as well as their service as lay leaders. The signers were members of religious denominations at a rate that was significantly higher than average for the American Colonies during the late 1700s. Charles Carroll Maryland Catholic Samuel Huntington Connecticut Congregationalist Roger Sherman Connecticut Congregationalist William Williams Connecticut Congregationalist Oliver Wolcott Connecticut Congregationalist Lyman Hall Georgia Congregationalist Samuel Adams Massachusetts Congregationalist John Hancock Massachusetts Congregationalist Josiah Bartlett New Hampshire Congregationalist William Whipple New Hampshire Congregationalist William Ellery Rhode Island Congregationalist John Adams Massachusetts Congregationalist; Unitarian Robert Treat Paine Massachusetts Congregationalist; Unitarian George Walton Georgia Episcopalian John Penn North Carolina Episcopalian George Ross Pennsylvania Episcopalian Thomas Heyward Jr. South Carolina Episcopalian Thomas Lynch Jr. South Carolina Episcopalian Arthur Middleton South Carolina Episcopalian Edward Rutledge South Carolina Episcopalian Francis Lightfoot Lee Virginia Episcopalian Richard Henry Lee Virginia Episcopalian George Read Delaware Episcopalian Caesar Rodney Delaware Episcopalian Samuel Chase Maryland Episcopalian William Paca Maryland Episcopalian Thomas Stone Maryland Episcopalian Elbridge Gerry Massachusetts Episcopalian Francis Hopkinson New Jersey Episcopalian Francis Lewis New York Episcopalian Lewis Morris New York Episcopalian William Hooper North Carolina Episcopalian Robert Morris Pennsylvania Episcopalian John Morton Pennsylvania Episcopalian Stephen Hopkins Rhode Island Episcopalian Carter Braxton Virginia Episcopalian Benjamin Harrison Virginia Episcopalian Thomas Nelson Jr. Virginia Episcopalian George Wythe Virginia Episcopalian Thomas Jefferson Virginia Episcopalian (Deist) Benjamin Franklin Pennsylvania Episcopalian (Deist) Button Gwinnett Georgia Episcopalian; Congregationalist James Wilson Pennsylvania Episcopalian; Presbyterian Joseph Hewes North Carolina Quaker, Episcopalian George Clymer Pennsylvania Quaker, Episcopalian Thomas McKean Delaware Presbyterian Matthew Thornton New Hampshire Presbyterian Abraham Clark New Jersey Presbyterian John Hart New Jersey Presbyterian Richard Stockton New Jersey Presbyterian John Witherspoon New Jersey Presbyterian William Floyd New York Presbyterian Philip Livingston New York Presbyterian James Smith Pennsylvania Presbyterian George Taylor Pennsylvania Presbyterian Benjamin Rush Pennsylvania Presbyterian
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Posted by: American No Hyphen On: Sunday, November 01, 2009 10:56 AM
Comment Title: Re:bruce
Religious Affiliation of U.S. Founding Fathers # of Founding Fathers % of Founding Fathers Episcopalian/Anglican 88 54.7% Presbyterian 30 18.6% Congregationalist 27 16.8% Quaker 7 4.3% Dutch Reformed/German Reformed 6 3.7% Lutheran 5 3.1% Catholic 3 1.9% Huguenot 3 1.9% Unitarian 3 1.9% Methodist 2 1.2% Calvinist 1 0.6% TOTAL 204
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Posted by: On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:59 PM
Comment Title:
I think maybe JW should just be quiet, maybe go say a prayer or two for himself to help him to learn tolerance, since he seems to be a very religious person.
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Posted by: On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:57 PM
Comment Title:
Baron, I don't think the man is whiney, but other than that, I hate to have to say it, but I do agree with you. Knowing so many of the good Christians who live in this area, I tend to think this fellow just might have a legitimate case. Folks around here, are not very tolerant of someone who does not believe as they do.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 2:39 PM
Comment Title:
I think maybe JW should read up on Deism.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 2:35 PM
Comment Title:
When the Founders wrote the nation's Constitution, they specified that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." (Article 6, section 3) This provision was radical in its day-- giving equal citizenship to believers and non-believers alike. They wanted to ensure that no single religion could make the claim of being the official, national religion, such as England had. Nowhere in the Constitution does it mention religion, except in exclusionary terms. The words "Jesus Christ, Christianity, Bible, and God" are never mentioned in the Constitution-- not once. The Declaration of Independence gives us important insight into the opinions of the Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson wrote that the power of the government is derived from the governed. Up until that time, it was claimed that kings ruled nations by the authority of God. The Declaration was a radical departure from the idea of divine authority.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 2:28 PM
Comment Title:
I wish it (Christianity) were more productive of good works ... I mean real good works ... not holy-day keeping, sermon-hearing ... or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments despised by wise men, and much less capable of pleasing the Deity."--- Benjamin Franklin, Works, Vol. VII, p. 75 There is a happiness in Deism, when rightly understood, that is not to be found in any other system of religion. All other systems have something in them that either shock our reason, or are repugnant to it, and man, if he thinks at all, must stifle his reason in order to force himself to believe them Thomas Paine. As I understand the Christian religion, it was, and is, a revelation. But how has it happened that millions of fables, tales, legends, have been blended with both Jewish and Christian revelation that have made them the most bloody religion that ever existed?" --- John Adams, letter to F.A. Van der Kamp, Dec. 27, 1816 "I almost shudder at the thought of alluding to the most fatal example of the abuses of grief which the history of mankind has preserved--the Cross. Consider what calamities that engine of grief has produced!" --- John Adams, letter to Thomas Jefferson "Is uniformity attainable? Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined, imprisoned; yet we have not advanced an inch towards uniformity. What has been the effect of coercion? To make one half the world fools, and the other half hypocrites. To support roguery and error all over the earth." --- Thomas Jefferson, from "Notes on Virginia" The name of Jesus Christ is not mentioned even once in the vast collection of Washington's published letters. He refers to Providence in numerous letters, but he used the term as a synonym for Destiny or Fate. Bishop White, who knew him well for many years, wrote after Washington's death that he had never heard him express an opinion on any religious subject. He added that although Washington was "serious and attentive" in church, he never saw him kneel in prayer.
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Posted by: ELMER PYEWACKET On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 1:17 PM
Comment Title: “Piety is oppressive. It takes all the air out of thought.” (Norman Mailer)
"I believe that religion, generally speaking, has been a curse to mankind--that its modest and greatly overestimated services on the ethical side have been more than overcome by the damage it has done to clear and honest thinking." H.L. Mencken
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Posted by: JW On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 10:02 AM
Comment Title: Centuries of War
BTW, read something will you. Born again Catholics, Bible believing Baptists or any Bible believing people are not catholics. We were not in the crusades. If you had half a brain you would know that.
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Posted by: JW On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 9:57 AM
Comment Title: Another Village idiot.
Anyone who claims this is not a christian Country founded by Christians is brain dead.Try doing some research. I can shoot you a few pages of quotes from the men you said were not Christians. Also, Baron Jesus said He was the only way to the Father so I am not tolerant of other religions looking for special treatment.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Saturday, October 31, 2009 7:02 AM
Comment Title:
I love it when the Christians try to claim America is a Christian nation, when history tells us that John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franlin, and even George Washington were not Christians. Yet the theists continue to spread these lies.
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Posted by: The Baron On: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:23 PM
Comment Title: Re: JW
No we are not the same person. I don't think anybody on here is supporting this whiny man's frivolous lawsuit. With that said, America is NOT a Christian country. America is a free country. Your lack of tolerance for the rights and freedoms and beliefs of others would seem to be un-Christian-like but it would also fit right in with the centuries of persecution and murder and war by your fellow "Christians."
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Posted by: PAGAN On: Friday, October 30, 2009 9:36 PM
Comment Title: Special Services
I read the story, and I am sitting here trying to figure out if this is religious, or just flat out racism. I can understand not giving the employee a "private" or "seperate" place to pray during the day. I can also understand co-workers getting upset about certain things in the work place. Is it not possible that this employee was told no to getting a seperate place to pray because prayer is not in the employment contract he signed? If he wanted a place to pray, then his income should have been adjusted. I say this because he was probably on salary, for so many hours a week, so many days a week. Take his prayer time and deduct it from his slary, and let him pray, in a place he can find, without being given a special place. Too late for that now though huh?
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Posted by: JW On: Friday, October 30, 2009 9:10 PM
Comment Title: Agnostic? Baron? Hate?
I sincerely believe (and hope) these three are the same person. I am praying that there can not be three people so stupid in Aiken County. Anyway, with that said, the man said it best. We don't have a place to pray.How about everyone demands a quiet place to pray everywhere they work? Owners would go crazy. Let's sue them because it wasn't quiet enough. Let the courts rule on the noise abatement materials to be used.Who will get the award to do random sound studies at all places of business? Let's call for prayer in the streets and and make those who do not believe stand in silence as muslims pray. GET A LIFE! As a Christian Country we do not have to cater to anyone who wants to worship a false God. In the Bible they were to get rid of them and not associate with them. One guy said Jesus practiced tolerance. What an idiot. You have created Jesus in your own image. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light, no one comes to the Father except by me. Did you get that? Don't misquote the bible and make your own stories. If you don't like our way, we have plenty of Highways.
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Posted by: Agnostic On: Friday, October 30, 2009 3:01 PM
Comment Title: Re: SECURITY
People are allowed to pray at work. Children are allowed to pray at school. Employers and public schools are not allowed to sponsor prayers. Why the heck can't you Christian-persecution-complex types get that through your skulls? And, Baron, I rarely agree with you, but I could not agree more with you here. In fact, I could not have said it better!
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Posted by: Bruce On: Friday, October 30, 2009 2:54 PM
Comment Title:
Look at the monstrosity that is Millbrook church and tell me that doesn't scream look at me!!!
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 30, 2009 12:27 PM
Comment Title: Sad
You know that location is not the only one that discriminates! They need to look in all the areas at SRS! Obama, you need to really take a close look at SRS!!!
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Posted by: The Baron On: Friday, October 30, 2009 11:18 AM
Comment Title: Re: Mr. C
"Do as Christians do ... pray in silence ... not for show." - Seriously? Your money grubbing, tax dodging Christian churches are in a constant race to see who can build the biggest or most lavish sanctuary and you have the audacity to tell someone not to do something for show? Oh the hypocrisy is alive and well with the oppressive Christians.
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Posted by: Ms Hill On: Friday, October 30, 2009 10:08 AM
Comment Title: Homeland, home bound
Our American culture will not let us put our guard down. We should remain suspicious of unknown events that happen within our national security areas. I've been working at SRS for 28 years and have conformed to many changes during our transitions because it was my choice to continue to be employed there. Security at he site has been enhanced, all employees have been informed of rules and have acknownledged they understand. As far as this man's action suit against the site, it is morally wrong of him to expect changes that would allow any employee to perform events of unknown acts that would lessen the security of the country he now lives in. Thanks to those who reported suspicious acitvites.
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 30, 2009 7:09 AM
Comment Title:
The comments left by others clearly show the attitude held by many around here towards anyone who is not an evangelical christian. There is an air of religious intolerance in the bible belt. Many forget the real message that Jesus spread, which was tolerance and acceptance of others who are unlike your self. I am not at all surprised by the allegations and will be even less surprised if they turn out to be true.
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Posted by: Moshan On: Friday, October 30, 2009 7:08 AM
Comment Title: hate
It's so many hateful people around here. Can't even accept another man's culture. Y'all haters need to shut up and get a life!
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Posted by: On: Friday, October 30, 2009 6:07 AM
Comment Title: SECURITY
How did this man get the JOB to the begin? Where is the security of this Nuke Facility. He had a private place to pray and kids can not pray at school and employees can not pray at work. It is time to purge Washington DC and get God fearing people up there.
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Posted by: Mr. C On: Friday, October 30, 2009 3:32 AM
Comment Title:
Show this opportunist the door. So that he may go back to the land of the anti-christian. Do as Christians do ... pray in silence ... not for show.
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Posted by: On: Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:40 PM
Comment Title:
if you have nothing to hide, shut the he11 up!
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