Abercrombie & Fitch's latest scandal heads all the way to the Supreme Court

By Dorey Scheimer and Patrick Terpstra - Cox Washington

WASHINGTON, DC (MyFoxBoston.com) -- Abercrombie & Fitch, the clothing store now waning in popularity among teenagers, is at the center of a controversy that has landed them at the United States Supreme Court.

It all started seven years ago, when then-17-year-old Samantha Elauf applied for a job at the store in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She reportedly got a high score during the interview, but ultimately didn't get the job. The reason? The Muslim teen was wearing a hijab.

Monday, Elauf came to the Supreme Court wearing the same kind of headscarf she was wearing during the interview. A government spokeswoman read a statement Elauf wrote.

It wrote in part, "I learned I was not hired by Abercrombie because I wear a headscarf, which is a symbol of modesty in my Muslim faith. This was shocking to me."

Abercrombie & Fitch defend their decision based on the company's dress code. It says in part that caps of any kind are not allowed to be worn by employees. However, some employees have come out arguing that Jewish employees have been permitted to wear yarmulkes.

Abercrombie attorneys say Elauf never made it clear she wore the headscarf to observe her Muslim faith. Abercrombie forbids asking about religion during job interviews, so as far as the company knew, the headscarf was a fashion statement.

Monday, the justices heard oral arguments from both Abercrombie & Fitch and lawyers for Elauf. The justices must decide whether or not Elauf's civil rights were violated.

A decision in this case is likely to come down this summer.

Cox Media Group