Ammon News -
By Al Arabiya

A Muslim Barber in Ontario, Canada, was sued by a woman after he refused to cut her hair saying his religion does not allow him to touch women, according to media reports.

Omar Mahrouk, co-owner of the Terminal Barber shop said his staff and himself are of Muslim faith which prohibits them from touching a woman who is not a member of their family.

Faith McGregor turned to Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario in June saying she was denied a “business haircut” because of her gender, which is against woman’s right, adding that she felt like a “second-class citizen.”

“For me it was just a haircut and started out about me being a woman.
Now we’re talking about religion versus gender versus human rights and businesses in Ontario,” McGregor told the Toronto Star.

“We live for our values. We are people who have values and we hold on to it. I am not going to change what the faith has stated to us to do. This is not extreme — this is just a basic value that we follow,” said Karim Saaden, co-owner of the Terminal Barber Shop.

“In our faith, for instance, I can cut my mother’s hair, I can cut my sister’s hair, I can cut my wife’s hair, my daughter’s hair,” he added.

The 35-year-old filed woman the complaint requesting Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to force barbers to provide haircuts to both women and men.

McGregor is not seeking monetary damages, but wants the tribunal to force the shop to offer haircuts to both genders.

According to the Toronto Star, the barbershop suggested McGregor return for a haircut by barber willing to cut her hair, however she turned down the offer.