Religious practice need not be familiar to fall under Title VII protection

We try to bring you the most current cases, but there are also classic cases that teach timeless lessons. What follows is a case that dealt with defining religion under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). While the case was decided a little over 10 years ago, it foreshadowed the way our country would morph into a multicultural one.

This is a religion?

Sikiru Adeyeye, who’s from Nigeria, worked as a warehouseman in Chicago for Heartland Sweeteners. When his father died, he needed leave to return to his home country. Here was his first request to his supervisors for five weeks of unpaid leave:

I hereby request for five weeks of leave in order to attend funeral ceremony of my father. This is very important for me to be there in order to participate in the funeral rite according to our custom and tradition. The ceremony usually covers from three to four weeks and is two weeks after the burial, there is certain rites that all of the children must participate. And after the third week, my mother will not come out [of her house] until after one month when I have to be there to encourage her, and I have to kill five goats, then she can come out. This is done compulsory for the children so that death will not come or take away any of the children’s lives. I will appreciate if this request is approved.