Muslims kicked out of Empire State building for performing prayer
A Muslim family from Long Island who was booted from the Empire State Building’s observation deck
A Muslim family from Long Island who were booted from the Empire State Building’s observation deck because they were praying has settled their lawsuit for an undisclosed sum, the Post has reported.
Fahad and Amina Tirmizi had said in their federal lawsuit that they and their two young children had begun silently reciting their prayers in a quiet spot on the 86th-floor deck at about 11 p.m. July 2, 2013, when two security guards roughly intervened.
The Farmingville couple was seeking $5 million in damages in the suit, filed last year in Manhattan federal court.
Although Amina briefly prayed with no hassle, a guard confronted Fahad and “menacingly poked” him as he told him he was not allowed to pray on the deck, the suit said.
Another guard arrived and told the family that they had to get out and “forcibly escorted” them down to the lobby and out of the building.