A British convert to Islam, who says she was told to take off her headscarf at work, says she was subjected to racial discrimination because she is white. Aisha Amalou is suing a care facility company for damages after claiming that a manager told her she was "not even a Muslim." Amalou is a "caucasian female who converted to Islam many years ago," according to court documents.

Aisha Amalou, described in legal papers as a “caucasian female who converted to Islam many years ago”, is attempting to win damages from a care home company over allegations a manager insisted she was “not even a Muslim”.

She alleges a colleague at the Lochleven Care Home in Broughty Ferry, where she was employed as a care assistant, repeatedly ordered her to remove the head covering and dismissed her pleas that she wore it for religious reasons.

Ms Amalou, 33, claims she then sought to raise the issue with a manager. However, it is alleged that manager revealed that she was the one who had given the order for the hijab to be taken off.

It is alleged that another manager sacked Ms Amalou on March 1 because she suffered a panic attack at work and because of the “hijab issue”. 

He is said to have told Ms Amalou “toddle-oo” in a “mocking tone” after firing her.

hijab, seeking his guidance.

She wrote: “My manager told me to remove my hijab I got emotional… she says its [sic] not religion and to take it off I’m really upset.” She asked the imam: “Is the hijab a choice? What should I do?”

‘The hijab is timeless’

Ms Amalou’s imam advised her to explain the importance of her hijab in a “non-confrontational way” and added: “The benefits of hijab are many, the ruling of hijab is timeless, and it is a part of our religion and obedience to Allah.”

The legal papers state that Ms Amalou was told to remove her hijab due to a policy around head coverings in the workplace.

It is alleged that she was dismissed for reasons “connected to wearing the hijab” and that comments about it created an “intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating and offensive environment”.

Ms Amalou is seeking a ruling that she was unlawfully discriminated against and “financial compensation and an award for injury to feelings.”

She claims the discrimination she encountered “had a significant impact” on her mental health.

Mr Russell said his firm, MML Law, “seeks to raise awareness for those being discriminated against in the workplace” and predicted the case would proceed to a full public hearing in 2025.