(2-26-2015) DEARBORN HEIGHTS— Last week a false and misleading article published by a right-wing website titled "Target surrenders to Sharia law in this sickening way" caused an uproar on social media.
The website routinely relies on pro-Christian and anti-Muslim propaganda to attract readers. The story published last week claimed that a Target in Dearborn Heights had implemented a new policy that “specifically caters to Muslim employees."
The subject of the article regarded Target management modifying their policies for Muslim employees who refused to scan pork items.
"The retailer notes that some Muslim cashiers had refused to scan products like bacon because it would interfere with their religious beliefs,” part of the article stated. “Reportedly, Muslim employees would ask other cashiers and coworkers to ring up the purchases. Some even went as far as asking the customers to scan the items themselves."
The article also quoted an alleged Target employee who claimed management moved Muslim employees off cashier duties to comply with their demands.
"They told all of us who don’t touch pork to go to the sales floor. They didn’t really say why. They just said it was a new policy.”
The article also allegedly quoted a Target spokeswoman who confirmed the policy change occurred. However, according to our sources, that “spokeswoman” hasn't worked for Target for several years.
A local Muslim resident who worked at the Target in Dearborn Heights was also photographed without her consent for the website’s article. The woman told The Arab American News that the story is fabricated and the photo used was taken years ago without her knowledge.
She also said she worked at the Target for a number of years and that neither she nor other employees ever had an issue “scanning pork items.”
In a statement to The Arab American News, Target corporation also denied that such policies exist for Muslims.
“Based on conversations with our team, we have no reason to believe the incident, as described, took place,” said Evan Lapiska, a representative for Target’s Media Relations department.
Despite the over-the-top claims made in the online story, the article was shared across social media and caused an uproar among conservative readers. Dearborn and Dearborn Heights are already falsely believed by some to be following “Sharia Law” in order to cater to its large Muslim population. This latest false report added more fuel to the fire.
Local Muslim residents were also left confused by the story. The general consensus was that the “Muslim employee” in the story overplayed the religion’s stance about handling pork.
Local Imams told The Arab American News that Muslims are allowed to scan and sell pork products if they work for an establishment that requires them to do so. It would only be forbidden by the religion if it's a Muslim business owner who runs an establishment and serves pork products.