Muslim group CAIR files complaint charging Citibank with discrimination

The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) has filed a complaint with New York City’s Human Rights Commission over a case of religious discrimination against a Muslim woman by Citibank.

CAIR said in its complaint on Tuesday that the bank had declined to open a savings account for a hijab-wearing Muslim woman who had intended to designate her husband as the beneficiary of the account.

The five-page filing noted that attempt by the unidentified woman to deposit $3,800 in a new account at the bank’s Manhattan branch had been abruptly scuttled by the mention of her husband’s Arabic surname.

Refusing to provide any explanation and to allow her to open the savings account, the bank told the woman it needed three to four days to investigate her husband first.

“Complainant was offended, humiliated and embarrassed because of the treatment directed at her by (Citibank),” the filing said, referring to the woman.

CAIR denounced the situation as one of a series of "Banking while Muslim" incidents.

“'Banking while Muslim’ is not a crime, yet financial institutions are singling out American Muslims for discriminatory treatment. Citibank must respect the civil rights and liberties of Muslim New Yorkers and immediately amend its policies," said CAIR litigation director Ahmed Mohamed.

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“The inability to open a bank or savings account can have dire financial consequences for a family, in addition to the emotional and psychological effects associated with being denied service because of your race, nationality or faith,” he added.

Mohamed stressed that CAIR had identified a pattern of banking discrimination against Muslims and people of Middle Eastern descent and expected to file multiple lawsuits and complaints in coming weeks.

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