USA : A former Disney employee files a lawsuit against the company for discriminationg against his Moroccan nationality

A Moroccan national who used to work at the Walt Disney World Resorts ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, has filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of discriminating against him because of his Moroccan nationality. As reported on Tuesday by Orlando Sentinel, a local online newspaper, Abderrahmane Sebti who’s been working for Disney since 1989 and his employment was terminated in 2014, is seeking $75,000 for what he has been subjected to.

Accusing the American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate of violating his civil rights, Sebti is asking for the sum as compensation for «mental distress, harming his professional reputation and lost wages», indicates the same source.

In fact, the Moroccan man claims that when working for Disney, he was prevented from praying during his Ramadan fast and from getting promotions, said the Orlando media platform. Moreover, he stated that in December 2012, he found a noose made of green duct tape in his office, as reported to the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

Subject to discrimination

«… He feels the noose was a sign telling to go ‘hang himself’ and feels that his is being threatened», the sheriff’s January 2013 incident report said. The later ruled that the incident was «unfounded» and no arrests were made, a sheriff’s spokeswoman told the same source on Tuesday.

Replying to allegations, Disney said in a statement : «We have not been formally served with the complaint and will respond as appropriate in court». According to Orlando Sentinel, Jay Romano Sebti’s lawyer declined to comment on Tuesday.

According to News Week, it is not the first time that a Moroccan national accuses Disney of discrimination. In 2012, Imane Boudlal who works for Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, filed a suit claiming that she was banned from wearing Hijab when working at the Storytellers Café.

Moreover, in 2015, two dozens of former IT employees in Orlando filed a complaint accusing Disney of discriminating against them based on their national origin.