A veteran D.C. firefighter told News4 that he was told to choose between his job and his religion and he said he has the proof on tape.
D.C. firefighter Tarick Ali is a devout Muslim who works out of Brentwood firehouse on Rhode Island Avenue in Northeast. He said in June, after praying while on duty, a supervisor complained about his response time. Ali filed a complaint and when it was heard by the department, Ali said he secretly recorded the meeting. and the statement was repeated four times.
"I said you need to make the choice," a voice on the tape said. "What's more important to you, your religion or the job, the fire department?"
"And I was shocked, I mean I didn't know where it came from or why it came or how it came out," Ali told News4 reporter Miguel Almaguer. "If you have a lieutenant that feels that you can say this and it's justified for him to say this, then it has a lot to do with management itself."
The fire department said it's surprised Ali went to the media because in July he signed paperwork stating that the issue had been resolved. Still, an investigation could be launched.
"If this is a situation that deserves further investigation, certainly we'll take a look at this new information and we'll proceed if it's necessary," said department spokesman Alan Etter.
The fire department said if those tapes are authenticated, those statements are completely inexcusable. Meanwhile Ali said he will file a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Copyright 2006 by nbc4.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
