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Local Arab Businessman Sues A US Bank
SEATTLE, U.S.A, Jan. 15 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - A King County Superior Court on Wednesday, barred Bank of America from closing the account of a Seattle-area Iraqi immigrant, who has accused the financial institution of ethnic profiling.
Hussain Alshafei, 34, sued the Bank of America for discrimination, last week. He claimed that the bank decided to close his account because it worried that his business was too risky in the aftermath of the deadly September 11th attacks on New York and outside Washington.
"This decision was made because I'm an Arab and because I'm a Muslim," Alshafei told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer newspaper. "After what happened in September, I think they got afraid."
Hussain Alshafei, 34, fled political persecution in his native Iraq and came to United States in 1994. He became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000.
Three years ago, Alshafei opened a business that helps immigrants wire money to Iraq. He told the court his services are mainly utilized by Iraqi immigrants who send money to Jordan. Relatives in Iraq then cross the border and get the money. For this service, Alshafei's business, Alshafei Family Connect, charges a fee.
He said that his business is a lifeline to people in Iraq, some of whom might die without the money.
"There is no way to get any assistance to them, especially the kids," said Alshafei.
Alshafei said that he has a cordial relationship with the Lynwood branch of Bank of America and that the staff at the branch has been very helpful. He added that several years ago, the Bank invited him to open his business account.
In December, 2001, however, Alshafei said he received a letter from a Bank of America office in Los Angeles informing him that it was closing the account without any explanation.
When he approached the branch, bank officials reportedly told him, "We don't like to have the risk."
Alshafei's attorney, Jon Rosen, said, "You can't close a man's account because there might be some Middle Easterners who are terrorists."
Bank of America spokesman Todd Rosin told the Post-Intelligencer that it is looking into Alshafei's complaint.
"At this time, I cannot offer any details about the customer's account because we do not divulge customer information, nor can I comment on pending legal issues," said Rosin.
"However, I can state firmly that we have no policy at Bank of America that drives us to make decisions based on one's race. The law tells us not to do so and so does our corporate conscience."
On Wednesday, a King County Superior Court commissioner ordered Bank of America to keep Alshafei's account open.
Additionally, the bank has been summoned to a hearing on January 22 to explain why the order keeping the account open should not be maintained.
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