Suit: LA Fitness won't let Muslim pray at gym

 

An American Muslim and former college basketball star who regularly worked out at the Oakley LA Fitness was told by gym workers he no longer was allowed to pray in the locker room, a Monday lawsuit alleges.

 

Mohammed Fall, 28, filed the suit in federal court against LA Fitness, its corporate parents and four workers at the 4700 Marburg Ave. gym.

 

The Oakley gym referred a Monday call from The Enquirer to the corporate offices, where a worker provided only a corporate email regarding media calls. That email wasn't immediately answered.

 

Mohammed was born in Senegal and raised a Muslim. He came to America in 1999 at age 12. After graduating from Western Hills High, he attended and played basketball at Tiffin University and then Ohio Christian University in Circleville. He captained both teams and was named his conference's player of the year his senior year.

 

He joined LA Fitness in 2013, regularly played basketball and lifting weights there. He also regularly prayed after each workout, the suit said, in a quiet corner of the gym locker room. He didn't use a pray mat or kneel during his prayer, instead standing, closing his eyes and not speaking.

 

That happened often, the suit noted, until three weeks ago. In a Jan. 29 incident, the suit alleges, Fall was conducting a post-workout prayer quietly in a secluded corner of the locker room when three LA Fitness employees surrounded him and told him to stop. No one else was in the locker room.

 

"The strange thing is, he did this in a very unobtrusive way. He's been doing it a year and then this," Fall's attorney, Tim Burke, said.

 

The LA Fitness workers, the suit said, told Fall to never again pray at LA Fitness, saying that decision had been made by a corporate manager who was at the gym that day. Fall believed if he continued to pray, he would be kicked out of the gym and subjected to "harassment," so he left.

 

"How many times," Burke asked, "do you see a (baseball) batter get into the box and make the sign of the cross? It's not a big deal. Why they would interfere with his right to prayer, which he did quietly, is beyond me."

 

Fall seeks unspecified money damages, including punitive damages, and attorney fees.

Leave the guy alone, you should be able to pray anywhere you want.

 

They need to worry more about keeping their soap dispensers full and paper Towles stocked.

I agree, Q. He's not hurting anyone by praying.

Dude is going to be getting a large payday, and rightfully so.

Before I read the article, I already had in my mind that he was breaking out a prayer mat in the middle of everybody working out and making a big spectacle of it. Had that been the case, LA Fitness might have had a leg to stand on. After reading the article, I side with Fall...LA Fitness really dropped the ball here and I think they are gonna end up with a lot of egg on their face.

Interesting questions come up. Can a private business stop people from praying on their premises? If not, what should be allowed? Being a private business, what happens if other people are bothered by it?

 

I doubt if he'll see a big payday but this should result in some interesting policies. I think LA's manager screwed up on this one and we'll soon see some major backtracking.

Interesting questions come up. Can a private business stop people from praying on their premises? If not, what should be allowed? Being a private business, what happens if other people are bothered by it?

 

I doubt if he'll see a big payday but this should result in some interesting policies. I think LA's manager screwed up on this one and we'll soon see some major backtracking.

 

Aren't there discriminatory laws that apply even to private businesses? Isn't religion a protected class?

Dude is going to be getting a large payday' date=' and rightfully so.[/quote']

 

Why does he deserve a large pay day?

Why does he deserve a large pay day?

 

Does he technically deserve money? Maybe not. However he'll most likely get it if he's looking for it.

 

You simply can't discriminate against someone for their religious beliefs.

Maybe the guy is saying this, because he's trying to get out of his Gym Contract!

Maybe the guy is saying this, because he's trying to get out of his Gym Contract!

 

That my friend is virtually impossible with gyms. Its why I pay 2 yrs upfront instead of signing a contract. It takes an act of congress to get that process completed without being charged atleast 1 or 2 times when you shouldnt have.

 

I think the guy has a right to compensation. We dont know what his mental well being is like at this point. I am sure he doesnt feel comfortable even going back to the gym.

 

The managers or employees at LA Fitness are a bunch of idiots. I gurantee they will be dealt with and swiftly if this ends up being bad publicity and a big payout.

I would like to know more detail before offering up an opinion.

 

I think it is a slippery slope.

 

Why can't he pray in his car before he comes in and once again after he leaves? What if groups start praying together at the gym?

 

I was a member of LA for a year, they run a tight ship aimed towards not offending any other gym members. I have mixed feelings on this one but I see LA's point.

I would like to know more detail before offering up an opinion.

 

I think it is a slippery slope.

 

Why can't he pray in his car before he comes in and once again after he leaves? What if groups start praying together at the gym?

 

I was a member of LA for a year, they run a tight ship aimed towards not offending any other gym members. I have mixed feelings on this one but I see LA's point.

 

Umm, he was standing in a corner in silence. How does that offend anyone?

Umm, he was standing in a corner in silence. How does that offend anyone?

 

I tend to agree with you but still say I want to hear more details and it is a slippery slope.

Aren't there discriminatory laws that apply even to private businesses? Isn't religion a protected class?

 

There are but I have no idea if that includes having to allow prayer at your facility. I know for instance you can't deny an apartment based on religious affiliation.