*A 16-year-old Muslim girl was dismissed from her lifeguard position at Philadelphia’s Joan Kelly Pool on her first day, allegedly due to her modest swim attire.
According to the Daily Mail, the teen, represented by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), wore a long-sleeve rash guard and swim pants, compliant with lifeguard safety standards, along with a detachable, flowy outer layer secured by velcro for modesty when not in the water. According to CAIR’s legal director, Adam Alaa Attia, pool staff flagged this additional layer as a safety hazard, leading to her termination.
“This young woman was prepared, professional and fully qualified,” Attia stated. “She was forced to choose between her faith and her employment—a choice no worker should ever have to make—especially in Philadelphia, where the Muslim community is foundational to the city’s identity.”
The teen, who wears a women’s size small, was offered a men’s 3XL cotton t-shirt and oversized swim trunks as an alternative, which CAIR argues disregarded her religious beliefs and safety. “Cotton is not approved swim material, and loose, oversized clothing is a well-known drowning hazard,” their press release noted.
Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson contested these claims, asserting the teen was not discriminated against but accommodated. “She was never asked to remove her rash guard. Her faith was never put into question,” Slawson told The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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She explained the issue centered on the “cape” attached to the rash guard, deemed a potential drowning risk due to entanglement. “You can’t get in the pool with that on because you have to worry about someone getting caught in that guard and possibly drowning,” she said.
Slawson also clarified that the teen was not initially fired, was paid for the day, and was invited to return, but the offer was withdrawn after she planned to confront management with her family.
CAIR is pushing for a formal investigation, an apology, the teen’s reinstatement, and mandatory religious accommodation training for city staff.
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