CHICAGO, IL — The Illinois Human Rights Commission has rejected claims of religious discrimination brought by a former employee who was fired after a viral video showed her removing posters related to Israeli hostages.
In the case of Ali v. Mindful Care, Inc., commissioners ruled that the employer did not unlawfully discriminate when it terminated the employee following public backlash. The video, recorded while the employee was off duty, showed her taking down posters referencing children kidnapped during the October 7 attack by Hamas.
The employee argued her actions were tied to her Muslim faith and beliefs about solidarity with Palestinians. She also said the video led to harassment from outside groups.
The commission found that the alleged harassment came from third parties and did not occur in the workplace, meaning it did not create a hostile work environment. It also determined there was no evidence the employer acted based on religion, noting the firing was tied to reputational concerns and patient loss.
The ruling did not address whether religious accommodation might have applied, as that argument was not raised in the case.
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