A Muslim man reached a settlement with a Lewiston hospital after he was allegedly discriminated against for his religion and appearance.
Motaz El Kelani sued Central Maine Healthcare Corp. in Lewiston in February 2023, alleging discrimination based on his race, gender, country of national origin and religion.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Portland, said El Kelani’s supervisor accused him of being intimidating toward two staff members, in part because he is an Arab man with dark features. He had dark skin, black hair and a black beard, according to the lawsuit.
An undisclosed settlement was reached between El Kelani and the hospital system. The lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice Feb. 9.
El Kelani, who was born in Egypt but now lives and works in Texas, worked for Central Maine Clinical Associates Corp. as a practice manager from July 1, 2019, to May 20, 2020. Central Maine Healthcare is the parent company of Central Maine Medical Center and the clinic where El Kelani worked.
When El Kelani requested to work remotely as a religious accommodation for the month of Ramadan in April 2020, Central Maine Clinical Associates put him on an involuntary, unpaid furlough instead, the lawsuit said. His position was eliminated a month later.
Ramadan is the holiest time of year for Muslims. All healthy adults abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset.