Muslim woman sues US retailer after Starbucks barista writes 'ISIS' on her cup

Muslim woman sues US retailer after Starbucks barista writes 'ISIS' on her cup
The 19-year-old told a press conference she was wearing a hijab when she made the order and repeated her name several times.
2 min read
08 July, 2020
A discrimination charge was filed to the Minnesota Department on Human Rights on Monday [Getty]

A Muslim woman from the US state of Minnesota has filed a discrimination charge against Target Corporation, for receiving a drink with "ISIS" written on it instead of her name, after ordering a drink from Starbucks, US media report.

Nineteen-year-old Aishah, who has asked only to be identified by her first name, said she was wearing a hijab when she made the order and repeated her name several times.

She was also wearing a facemask due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

When she was handed the cup and saw "ISIS" – an acronym referring to the Islamic State of Iraq an Syria militant group – she felt "belittled and humiliated", CNN report.

The barista, who was questioned by Aishah, claimed she had failed to hear her name properly.

The 19-year-old raised the issue with store manager of the St. Paul-Midway Starbucks, who dismissed it as nothing more than an error and gave her a new drink and a $25 Starbucks gift card.

Aishah is now being represented by the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), who filed a charge to the Minnesota Department on Human Rights on Monday.

"This is a word that shatters the Muslim reputation all over the world. I cannot believe in this day and age, something like this can be considered acceptable. It isn’t okay." Aishah told a press conference.

She says there was "absolutely no way" the barista could have heard her name incorrectly.

"Aishah is not an unknown name and I repeated it multiple times," she said.

CAIR-MN are seeking the dismissal of the two employees involved in the incident, as well as other for other emloyees at the store to receive additional training on Islamophobia and bigotry.

Target claim the incident was "an unfortunate mistake that could have been avoided with a simple clarification", saying they were "very sorry" for the her experience.

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