A federal jury in Michigan has ordered the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) to pay $1.8 million to former English language instructor Sudoos Hamood after finding the nonprofit illegally fired her for refusing to remove her religious veil (niqab) during classes, violating Title VII and Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.
In Friday’s verdict, jurors awarded $5,471 in economic damages, $300,000 in compensatory damages, and $1.5 million in punitive damages after concluding ACCESS failed to reasonably accommodate Hamood’s religious beliefs and could have allowed her to teach an all-female in-person class without undue hardship.
Hamood began working at ACCESS in 2016 and was promoted to English instructor in 2019. As a Muslim, she started wearing the niqab in 2020 to cover her face from unrelated men, aligning with her faith. She taught remotely during COVID-19 with camera off, but in September 2021 ACCESS required cameras on. Hamood agreed if she could wear her niqab; the organization refused, citing need for students to see pronunciation/articulation.
She offered to remove the niqab for an all-female in-person class, but ACCESS rejected it without alternatives and threatened termination. Hamood was fired in October 2021 for refusing to remove the veil.
ACCESS argued face visibility was essential for language teaching and offered alternatives (barring male students from viewing, prohibiting screenshots), claiming accommodation posed undue hardship.
U.S. District Judge Linda V. Parker denied summary judgment in March 2025, finding jury questions on reasonableness and hardship — noting risks in virtual alternatives (men in room, screenshots) and no clear hardship in in-person female-only teaching amid COVID prevalence. Hostile environment, disparate treatment, and retaliation claims were dismissed.
The jury sided with Hamood, finding no undue hardship in her proposed accommodation and awarding substantial punitives for willful violation.
ACCESS spokesperson said the organization is “pleased with the court’s decision” on some claims but focused on mission. No immediate comment from parties.
Hamood is represented by Anna Sofia Kozak, Matthew R. Gunter, and Michael N. Hanna of Morgan & Morgan PA. ACCESS is represented by George B. Washington of Scheff & Washington PC.
The verdict reinforces Title VII religious accommodation obligations for employers — especially nonprofits — when reasonable alternatives exist without undue hardship, particularly in education settings where face visibility is argued but not always essential.
