Bearding a hairy religious problem
OLLOW orders, or your conscience?
For two young budding Durban chefs, the choice was not one they thought they would ever have to make, especially with future careers on the line.
But, when Huzaifah Mohideen and Mohammed Yusuf Ismail were faced with the unthinkable in their Muslim faith – having to shave their beards – they chose the alternative provided by their boss, which was to leave at the start of four-month internships at landmark Durban beachfront hotels.
“We did not complete our internship there simply because we refused to shave our beards,” said Mohideen, 23.
“As Muslims, this is against our religion.”
The Morningside resident and Mohammed, 17, of North Beach, were placed at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani hotels by Capsicum Culinary Studio, where they are students.
They said that nowhere in the contracts they signed was there any mention that they had to be clean shaven.
“It only said our hair had to be neat and tidy,” said Mohammed.
Mohideen was with the Maharani division for about six weeks when he was allegedly told his internship was terminated. He is now completing his internship at an uMhlanga hotel, operated by a different chain.
Mohammed was at the Elangeni division, which is right next door to the Maharani, for just two days when the brouhaha over facial hair took place. He is currently based at another beachfront hotel.
The pair, who were eager to learn the culinary trade from those among the best in the business, were taken aback by the ordeal.
While the hotel’s owners, Tsogo Sun, are sticking by the decision, taken on what they say are hygienic grounds, and backing their executive chef, Shaun Munro, who allegedly made the call, irate community members are up in arms, threatening to boycott the hotels.
Mohideen and Mohammed believe Munro discriminated against them, calling his decision to give them the chop unnecessary and unconstitutional.
Their families are contemplating legal action.
Their plight was first highlighted on Radio Islam and since then their story has gone viral on social media.
The pair claim that Tsogo Sun were twisting the truth about relocating them to an alternative kitchen due to their religious beliefs.
Mohideen said that as part of their one-year diploma course in food preparation and cooking, they had to complete four months practical training and theory at the Capsicum Culinary Studio followed by four months of work experience.
Orientation
The rest of the year would be spent on revision and preparing for their examinations.
Mohideen said that during orientation at the Elangeni, which Ismail did not attend because he was completing his practical training, students were told that beards were not allowed.
“I was the only person with a beard and I told the person doing the orientation I could not shave for religious reasons. I was then told to speak to the chef at the kitchen I would be placed at.”
He started working at the Maharani later that day.
“I told the chef there that I kept a beard for religious reasons and that my father would not allow me to shave it. Because it was the fasting month, I think he assumed I would shave it afterwards.”
He said he interned there for almost six weeks when the chef allegedly told him that Munro had expressed some disquiet over the beard.
“The chef, who allowed me to work without a beard net, then advised me to start wearing one. That’s what I did until I was told to find a new internship. I just said okay and left,” he said.
“My dad was angry and called the general manager of both hotels, Samantha Croft… She said it was their (policy) to be clean-shaven to work in the industry.”
Mohideen’s mother, Zaheeda, said: “She was unapologetic. She said she let them go because of the beard. She wanted to know if we ever saw a celebrity chef with a beard or a burka and added that behind their counters, one would not see anyone with either.
“This, to me, implied that this industry was not for Muslims with beards and scarves.”
She said her son, due to the demands of his job, trimmed his beard shorter than it originally was.
Mohammed started working at the Elangeni about three weeks after Mohideen.
“After a brief orientation, I signed my contract on the second day. It said nothing about a beard, just that your hair must be neat and tidy,” he said.
While working at the cold food kitchen, he said he was told by the head sous chef that he was not allowed to have a beard.
“He said I needed to shave or leave the kitchen. I told him I could not shave for religious purposes. He, in turn, said I had a day to decide whether I should go clean-shaven or I should leave.
Shave
“I told him I would let him know the following day but I knew I would never shave. I just wanted to continue working and hoped he would forget the incident.”
He returned home for lunch and told him mother about the incident.
“I knew Huzaifah was working at the Maharani hotel and because we hadn’t spoken in a while, assumed he had no problems there, so my mother called the chef there and enquired if it would be okay for me to work there and he said it would not be a problem.”
The following day, Mohammed was asked if he had decided what he wanted to do.
“I said I would not shave and asked to speak to Shaun, who told me Southern Sun had a policy that no beards are allowed.
“He gave me his card and told me to go home to decide.”
Tsogo Sun said in a statement that the hygiene policy in the kitchens included restrictions on facial hair.
“Restrictions are also included in Capsicum Culinary Studio’s course notes, which are signed by all students prior to taking their placements.
“We are aware that two kitchen trainees from Capsicum, which had been placed at Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani, needed to be relocated to an alternative kitchen for their training due to their religious beliefs.
“As soon as we became aware of their religious beliefs, we contacted Capsicum and arranged for them to be placed in a Halaal kitchen, where facial hair is acceptable. Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani adheres to hygiene policies in order to ensure the safety of our guests.
“We cannot alter our policies to favour one particular religion or belief system.”
The Capsicum Culinary Studio said in a statement: “While we adhere to the strictest standards of hygiene and safety in our teaching kitchens, we also understand and support students who follow their own choice of cultural and religious practice in the form of dress and appearance.
“Therefore, concessions are made in terms of these based on a mutually agreed understanding of said conduct and dress during practical classes which are in accordance with hygiene requirements.”
Moulana Abdullah Khan of the Jamiatul Ulama KZN said they viewed such incidents as discriminatory, prejudicial and completely unacceptable.
“It would seem that the Tsogo Sun is in contravention of the South African constitution, which has the freedom of religion enshrined within it. This freedom states that, ‘No person may be discriminated against, directly or indirectly, on the basis of religion’,” Khan said.
He said the importance of religious and cultural tolerance could not be overemphasised.
“Religious intolerance is an attack on human dignity, on human rights, on the constitution of our rainbow nation and against all peace-loving individuals who wish to see a world living in harmony.”
Khan added that if it was confirmed Tsogo Sun had acted unethically, with religious bias, or to have condoned such behaviour from their employees, then the Jamiat KZN would take “appropriate action”.