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| Hani Khan |
(Scroll down for video) A popular U.S. clothing retailer is under fire after a judge ruled it violated the law when it ordered a Muslim woman to remove her hijab, according to court proceedings in the United States.
A U.S. judge ruled that Abercrombie & Fitch violated federal law when the company fired a Muslim employee at one of its Hollister stores for refusing to remove her hijab.
Judge Yavonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of Hani Khan's request for summary judgment against Abercrombie, the parent company of Hollister owns, according to court documents.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Abercrombie on behalf of Khan in 2011, after she claimed the company fired her in 2010 for her decision to wear the mandated religious veil.
"A reasonable jury could determine that by offering Khan one choice, to remove the hijab despite her religious beliefs, Abercrombie acted with malice or reckless indifference and its actions violate federal law," the judge said.
A trial will begin in late September to determine what Abercrombie owes Khan as a result of its illegal actions.
An Abercrombie spokesperson wrote in an email that Abercrombie & Fitch does not discriminate on grounds of religion and grants reasonable religious accommodations.