The Importance of Being Edgar: Waldorf-Astoria Sued Over Forced Name Change of Muslim Waiter

Muhammad is the most common given name in the world with more than 150 million men and boys with the name. Including Mohamed Kotbi, a waiter at the Waldorf-Astoria. The famed hotel is being sued by the former banquet waiter after he was allegedly told to wear name tags reading Edgar or John because customers would be afraid of a waiter named Mohamed.

Kotbi was first allegedly told to adopt a new name two days after September 11th. He states in his complaint that he was told “[w]e don’t want to scare our guests.”

He says that, after filing discrimination complaints with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, he was given a name tag with his last name, Kotbi. He claims, however, that he was then turned into an “Edgar” by the restaurant.

He is now suing for “hostile work environment” over the name tags. With the death of Bin Laden announced today, perhaps some perspective will be gained in looking back at our actions following September 11th. This story is one glimpse of the intense hostility faced by Muslims in this country.

He is, of course, not the first to face a backlash over his name. Below is “Edgar” Ali:

Source: New York Post