Upset: would-be hairdresser Bushra Noah claims she suffered discrimination

Selling image: salon owner Sarah Desrosiers

Reader views (60)

 Add your view

i think we should resecpt miss noah for her beliefs n it shouldnt matter if she wears a headscarf or not i would have givien her a go in my salon everyone should be treated the same

- Katherine, australia

i dont think the comments you have all stated is fair...Firstly dont tease people about the way they look.(god created them).
The fact is that she told her to come for a TRIAL and not given her the chance to show her what she can do is totally wrong...
Never judge a book by its cover, just because of what we hear from the media doesnt mean muslims are bad. in every religion there are bad and GOOD.i have employed a muslim with a head scraf and she is absolutely excellent at what she does.
Even if she applied for an interveiw and got rejected 25 times, she was treated unfairly...
what does it mean when someone tell you that (why didnt you tell me that you weAR a head scraf over the phone). THAT PROVES THAT BECAUSE SHE IS COVERED AND A MUSLIM THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD HAVE OFFERED YOU A TRIAL IN MY SALON..WHICH IS RACISIM....
We in Australia support you all the way Ms Noah she could have been more polite and actually gave you a chance to show what talent you have and then if she doesnt want you she could have put it in a better way of saying i dont want you because i dont think you have the standards i was looking for...
I HAVE SO MANY MUSLIM FRIENDS AND I AM A NON MUSLIM AND I TOTALLY DISAGREE TO THE WAY THE MEDIA TREATS MUSLIMS TODAY. THEY ARE NO DIFFERENT TO US...
WHY DONT WE PUT OURSELVES IN SARAHS SHOES AND WENT TO ASK FOR A JOB IN A SALON AND THE SALON OWNER IS A MUSLIM. WOULD SHE LIKE SOMEONE TELLING HER WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME OVER THE PHONE THAT YOU ARE NOT COVERED

- Sara, Australia

I don't think the woman should have been sued but still she should not have been rude to the girl.

- Gina, U.S.

In my view, Sarah is well within her rights to take on whom ever she see fit to do the job. Sarah has only had the business 18 months, and therefore may not be up for taking the risk of employing somebody who is totally unwilling to negotiate the head scarf ethos. However, Noah is not upset really with Sarah, but with the whole situation of not getting the job in the line of work she wants to work in. Nevertheless, Noah is taking this out on the wrong person and hopefully this will show through when it goes to court. Noah is basically upset that she can’t get a job, but what has made her think she would, when hairdressing is all about body image. In fact, the only way she will get a job now, is by somebody feeling sorry for her. As she may not get to interview stage next time going by the publicity she has brought upon herself.

JKR Orpington, Kent.

- Jkr, Orpington, Kent.

Out of all the 25 interviews that Bushra Noah was unsuccessful, why did she decide to sue this one?? costing this salon job losses and loss of business and clients all due to injury to her feelings.

- Lish, austarlia

I frequently buy the International Express to get my little bit of British news. All I can say is that I'm so glad I'm no longer living and working in PC Britain. I am a salon owner myself and when I read this story it utterly amazed me. I also taught hairdressing for a while and client awareness was a subject I would touch on. Whilst the client is waiting her attention will unvarioubly turn to looking at the salon, product range, stylists hair, marketing material etc. There's no way a stylist could have her hair covered!! That's no advertisement for the salon...in fact it would be positively detrimental to the salon image. Our stylists must be madeup and groomed each day for work....after all what am I selling? Image ofcourse and Ms Noah needs her head examined if she thinks her image is suitable for a commercial salon. My heart goes out to Sarah...its hard enough complying to the PC brigade without this absurdness!

- Susan, Auckland, New Zealand

I'm a muslim woman that wears a hijab and have had my hair cut in the past at places like this (before the hijab). I have seen how the stylists dress and to be honest, even I can see why Sarah said "I wish you told me this on the phone."

I can't see why Bushra Noah is taking it this far. If she was actually "treated rudely at her interview" then she should have got an apology, but that's probably about it. I have been treated like that and have not reacted nicely.

Saying that, thinking the other way, it would have probably got her a lot more business if she hired this woman and she (Noah) was a good enough stylist. But then again, Sarah's place is catering to a particular type of people. Hip and happening types...

I dunno but that's what i think.

- Monica, Manchester

Bushra Noah you are pathetic!
You make me sick playing the racism card.
Hairdressing is all about image and well I don't think anything else needs to be said.

- Sarah, brisbane, Australia

If Ms Noah was Christian, Jewish, Hindu or whatever other religion who chose to wear a headscarf for an interview for a hair stylist and had been turned down for the job. No one would have gave it a second thought, why then is it such a problem because she is a Muslim? She was turned down for the job because of the difficulties of an headscarf in that profession. Not because it was Muslim headscarf or a Muslim wearing a headscarf. Let's stop this nonsense now.

- S Reklaw, northumberland

Sarah, you should start a legal fund that would allow small contributions. I'm sure there are many thousands who would contribute $10 or so to fight this and make it a landmark case. I'm an American who has spent little time in the UK but I understand the significance of this. Sanity must be brought back to the UK!!

- Mark, Las Vegas,NV USA

I'm straight-laced to the core; but if I'm EVER in London, the FIRST place I'll visit will be the Wedge Salon. I'm sure that they can fix me up some kind of way!

Sarah, we're with you here in America, too! Lots of us! Please set up some kind of way we can contribute on-line.

- Jim, USA

Dear Ms Noah,

You have been turned down by 24 other salons. There is a message in there somewhere, if you care to look. This is about greed, laziness and a desire to play the all powerful trump card of "racism". Your behaviour is pathetic, and your smug face at the top of the article says it all. You look rather pleased with yourself...rather than having damaged feelings!

To Sarah, if you establish some sort of fighting fund, I will contribute willingly. Stand firm in the face of this money grabbing racist.


- Martin Withers, Lancaster

Sarah,
I will recommend my London mates frequent your shop. If I ever get to visit, I will surely avail myself of your salon. Stand strong.

- Fran, Philadelphia, USA

1. Bushra was the racist for assuming that Sarah was discriminating against her racially because Sarah is white.
2. Stories like this fuel the prejudices of the REAL racists in the world and get us nowhere towards solving the issues of racial discrimination in this world.
Shame on you Bushra and Sarah, I am coming to get my hair cut.

- Lucy Hawkes, Falmouth, UK

I wouldn't give the greedy little madam a job shovelling ....
Makes you wary of all of them.
Then they wonder why ?

- Yvonne Jarman, United Kingdom

All my sympathy goes out to Sarah. I will endeavour to rally as many friends as I can to visit her salon and give her some support against this miscarriage of justice!

- Hels, Lewisham, England

I think that the hairdresser should have the right to employ who she wants to employ, is this the tail wagging the dog. IT IS her business

- Tony Dow, Billericay Essex

As a hairdresser myself I have often cut, coloured styled,my hair - worn a uniform following a request to do so from my employer. This has always been to my benefit as you will never gain your clients or peers respect / trust turning up to work looking like unable to perform your own grooming yet expecting to do exactly this for others. I would never let anyone touch my hair who didn't look like they could do their own to a certain standard.

- Monique, London

I pray to God the Courts fling out this case and award Sarah Desrosiers large compensation for the nonsense she has had to put up with.

Would you employ that ugly fool ?

Lots of people have already shown her the door

Come on you real Muslims tell her to Egg off!

- Hans Zoff, Edinburgh Scotland

These people play the race card because they know this country will bow to their demands. Many thanks past and present politicians, as you can see, you're doing a great job!

- Rbs, Birmingham

I believe that as an industry we should stand together and support this salon owner, who has simply stated the obvious. We 'sell haircuts', 'sell image'. It's nothing to do with racism. I whole heartedly support Sarah. As a salon owner, and as an industry, if Sarah is sued £35.000, everybody should give her £100.

- Benjamin Guzenda, Leicester

Isn't it remarkable how headscarves always bring all the anti-Muslims out in droves? Maybe they can explain:

1.) Why they think a person cannot have a personal attitude to modesty/behaviour and at the same time interact with those of a different view? For example, would they demand that teetotallers be banned from doing bar work?

2.) If they would refuse to hire bald/balding men as barbers/stylists?

3.) If they think women have less imagination than men, and thus cannot have their hair styled without an 'example' in front of them?

4.) If they believe women can only go to stylists who have exactly the same style that they want to have?

5.) If they think women are so dumb they do not realise that the stylist serving them did not actually style her own hair?

6.) If they would sack a woman stylist if she lost her hair during cancer chemotherapy, on the grounds that she could no longer fulfil an 'absolutely basic' job requirement?

7.) If they would apply such standards to other professions, e.g. only employ women in the fashion industry who are physically 'perfect', i.e. ban the disabled. If you must see hair in order to have your own styled, by the same logic you must see people with two arms and two legs in order to imagine yourself in their clothes.

The one point that the owner of the hair salon did not clear up was if the person suing her had been given a chance to actually style some hair, to see if she was any good. Failing to do so was simply wrong.

- A. Patel, London

Sarah should absolutely win the case! Suing someone for not giving you a job as a hair-stylist because your hair isn't visible just doesn't make sense. If you can't do your own hair well enough to show it, I would hate for you to do mine!

- Marie, USA

It is very disappointing to hear about someone like Bushra Noah trying to take advantage of hardworking people.

I wish Sarah lots of luck in fighting this ridiculous accusation.

I feel that we are now living behind a veil of political correctness.

- Zoe, London, UK

I believe it is high time for everyone to leave their religion at home. I fully support the right to practice all faiths in our multi cultural society. But stop forcing it down everyones throat.
If we continue on this path our tolerant British socety will be just a memory.

- Stephen, London

Sarah Desrosiers is absolutly right, hairstylists are among the most creative of people and there is no place for anyone wishing to hide their hair in a salon. Our work force needs to be protected against people who will ultimatly destroy a lovely trendy bussiness such as hers

- Michael Harkett, London

You can't get in the Armed Forces with long hair. You feel uncomfortable in a rock concert with short hair. Why is this woman intensifying racial tension for entirely groundless reasons? As said earlier, 'When in Rome'

These pathetic, groundless allegations cause great irritation for no reason.

- Ash, Berkshire

This is totally out of order. She knows the way the real world works - does she honestly expect employment in a trendy place looking the way she does - this woman knows exacly what she is doing. She is being vindicitive and damaging and she should be sued herself for causing unnecessary distress. I am so sick of people crying foul about anything they don't get their own way.

- Jason, London

This lady is just after a fast buck. How could she possibly want to be a hairdresser and as has been said before the unisex salon will have men coming into it - will she refuse to work with men. Ridiculous.

- Jane, London

Here we go again another one after getting a big fat payday without working for it. The clue to being suitable for styling people's hair is in the word Style. If people cannot see how a person cares for or styles their own hair how could they possibly have confidence in that person taking care of the client's hair. Good luck Sarah I hope you will will always be able to recruit the right staff for your business.

- Len, Hampshire

I wouldn't want Noah anywhere near my locks! Clever girl though, playing the race card.

I hope that Wedge gets lots of business in the near future - if I lived in the area I'd go there for a cut and finish and give Sarah a big tip, just to show my support, even though I am neither urban nor funky!

- Rachel, Glamorgan, UK

Ms Noah is playing that old, worn out chestnut, the race card. There is nothing more irritating to the average person than hearing about these trumped up accusations by people not up to the job. I'd never make it as a supermodel, but I don't think I'll be able to sue the fashion industry. Grow up Ms Noah.

- Shirley, London

When will all this ethnic and PC related litigation end. I am sick and tired of reading the same old rhetoric both old and new.

- Eric, Herts

I feel the hairstylist has a right to say no. If I worked for a company that sells something, I need to sell the product and that is the hairstylist's job to do so. I feel the owner is being taken advantage of as well.

- David, London, UK

If she wins, let's hope Bushra uses the money (presumably income tax doesn't apply) from this case to set up her own business and showcase her talent.

While we're at it, shouldn't Prince Harry sue the army for not letting him go to Iraq because he's a member of the royal family? Blatant discrimination...

Good luck to the entrepreneur who will have worked hard to get where she is today, and no doubt endured many trials along the way.

- S, London, UK

Is Ms Noah having a laugh! If she had attended 25 interviews, as she claims, you would think she would have got the message by now. In my opinion her legal action against Ms Desrosiers is entirely politically motivated and it's about time we all said loud and clear 'we have had enough'.

- Anne, London, Brockley, London

This young lady is being unreasonable. The hairdresser is quite right in wanting her staff to have their hair on show - that's what the business is all about. The staff's hair has to be the advertising for the salon's work. My advice; don't be unrealistic - try another profession, and don't be so vindictive that you ruin that poor hairdresser's livelihood just because you can't make your religion and your choice of job compatible.

- Fiona, London

Well by the looks of things a hair salon is all about styling hair. For a trendy salon you need to look the part. She looks more like a
secretary in an office and not a promoter of fashioning hair.

- Leigh, natal

How many salesmen has anyone come across with visible piercings or tattoos? Has anyone succesfully sued for not getting a job as a salesman due to their image being shoddy? If you work in an industry where part of the job is selling your product, which in the case of hairdressing, it is, then you have to be prepared to show the product (unless you have a bad hair cut in which case you should probably change jobs).

- Trevor Roll, London

Can someone tell me who Bushra Noah's lawyer is. I want to sue a company because they refused to consider me for a job because I wasn't wearing a tie at the interview.

- Paul, Kilburn, London

I can sympathise both with Bushra, and also with Sarah, given the circumstances. owever, by all accounts Bushra would not have 'qualified' to work at Wedge beyond her trial day, due to being unable to display her own hairstyle as a means of attracting cllients to the salon. She would likely have left at her own accord if she did not have any new clients to take care of.

Where have other headscarf wearing hairstylists been successfully hired? Bushra may want to consider applying to work in one of these establishments.

I doubt if the employment tribunal will rule in Bushra's favour. All in all a total waste of everybody's time!

- Martin, Toronto, Canada

Matt - you need to get a grip. If you want to work at a funky, fashion-focused hairdressers, you have to show you have some kind of funky hair style. At the very least, I would have thought it would be mandatory to show your hair.

- Rachel, London

Women like this give Muslims a bad name.

- Bill, London

Matt of "lONDON" states:

> It's blatant discrimination that is unacceptable, she turned up for a job

That is job _interview_, not actual employment.

> and was told she wasn't wanted because she wore a religious
> headscarf. If she was a Christian turned down for wearing a cross I'm
> sure all these negative comments wouldn't be here.

It would have to be a very big cross to cover her hair, which is what
Ms. Desrosiers had issues with - that the potential employee would not be showing her hair which is an integral part selling her salon's
"image".

Also the fact that she had gone for 25 interviews, for me, is a good sign that she is not an ideal candidate anyway, and that Ms Noah is looking at the wrong vocation, or needs to goto a hairdressing college to improve her potential to be employed as a hairdresser.

- Drav, Finchley, London

I have never heard anything as dumb as this in my life! The legal system needs to nip this one in the bud and do justice for Ms Sarah Desrosiers. Obviously a hard-working entrepeneur who just wants to make her way in life and employ others in the process. This is just yet another case of our legal system and the judiciary pandering to "political correctness."

- Jonathan L, London, UK

Let's take Ms. Noah's claims seriously - she says that being a Muslim involves having to cover her hair, but she presumably has no problem with touching men at work: unrelated, Non-Muslim men??? I don't think so.

If it is haram (forbidden/undesirable) to have uncovered hair, why is it ok to do a job which will routinely bring you into contact with men, and even to touch them? In case Ms. Noah hasn't noticed, Wedge is a unisex salon.

Was she also going to make them go women-only to accommodate her religious views? Ms. Noah shows remarkable naivety about the job she says she really wanted. However, she shows a canny attitude to discrimination law; maybe she should consider a career in that direction.

My sympathies are with Ms. Desrosiers, who built up her own business on sheer hard graft.

If Ms. Noah wants to be a hairdresser she might take a leaf out of Ms. Desrosiers book.

- Sarah N., London

At 5'2" I wonder if I could sue the modelling industry for refusing to give me a job on the catwalk and hurting my feelings. Just a thought.

- Elle, W1

It's blatant discrimination that is unacceptable, she turned up for a job and was told she wasn't wanted because she wore a religious headscarf. If she was a Christian turned down for wearing a cross I'm sure all these negative comments wouldn't be here.

It's the same if you have a skin condition and are turned down, you have a right under disability discrimination law to take action.

Good luck with your case, Bushra.

- Matt, lONDON

How strange that a Muslim woman shows interest in becoming a hairdresser - when the religion encourages the covering of hair with a headscarf? I think she is "Trying it On".

- Alan Eaves, Buckhurst Hill Essex

Wait until she tries to get a job at a pole dancing club wearing a jihab!

- Graham, Reading, England

Can I sue Manchester United for not employing me to play football just because I am an unfit asthmatic? Surely that goes against the disability discrimination act as much as this case is about religious discrimination.

The fact that 25 salons refused her, should say something about her need to change if she is going to achieve her dream.

Maybe she should apply to a hair salon in a muslim area if that is what is important to her.

- Graham, Reading, England

Never mind the headscarf, what's the point in applying for a job at a funky hairdressing salon when you look and dress like a librarian? I should think that the fact that she didn't sue the first 24 prospective employers and 'decided to sue' this one, will show her up to be a bigot with a chip on her shoulder. The racism card is getting very tired and the reason for that is because it is overplayed against people with no racist intentions. This case is all about business. People such as Miss Noah are guilty of fanning the flames of racism by these false and selfish accusations.

- Arnie M, London UK

Yet again it is the lawyers who will benefit. No doubt she was encouraged by a 'friendly' lawyer who saw this as yet another way to make some money out of the public.

- Patrick Griffin, Dalston

I have a skin condition that means I sometimes look rather flushed. If I had £10,000 for everytime someone suggested that I had either been drinking or been out in the sun I would be a millionaire!

- Michael, London

To be a stylist you need to have some style yourself.

- Squiz, Islington

If Ms Desrosiers sets up a fighting fund I will send her some money, it's time we stood up to these idiots. How can it be right that a woman loses her business for not employing someone unsutable for the job?

- Rob, London

Good luck Sarah, you shouldn't be punished for something you haven't done. This is something that is cropping up all too often and innocent people are paying the price.

- Anon, London

Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill, its pathetic! Obviously she's just money grabbing, I totally understand where the hairdresser is coming from, being a hairdresser is all about selling image, theres nothing worse then going into a hairdressers to see the stylist who is doing your hair to have unkempt hair themselves. You wouldnt trust them - it should be the same for people who wear a headscarf.

- Jamie-Lee, LDN

£15,000 for injury to feelings? Get a grip! Why is everyone suddenly so sensitive? Is shutting a salon and costing everyone else their jobs going to make her feel better? If I can't have that job, then no-one else can either! There are plenty of jobs out there where image is important, especially when interacting with the public, and they don't sue everyone because they are upset because they can't wear their facial piercings or base ball cap.

- Kim, Lancing, West Sussex

If Ms Noah has been turned down for 25 hairdressing jobs, maybe it's time she looked for another career. It's really annoying when people misuse the racism card when the reason lies elsewhere.

- Marianne, SW France

Add your comment