[JURIST] The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) [advocacy website] on Wednesday filed suit [press release] on behalf of Muslim American Raja’ee Fatihah, who was denied service at an Oklahoma gun range last year. CAIR, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the ACLU of Oklahoma argue [complaint, PDF] that the gun range, Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gun Range [Facebook page] violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as well as the anti-discrimination laws of Oklahoma. Once Fatihah identified himself as Muslim, he alleges the “defendants armed themselves with handguns” and refused him service. They then proceeded to ask him whether he had come to the range to commit acts of “jihad.” Fatihah, a US army reserve member who shoots to maintain his proficiency in marksmanship, was denied service in October. The gun range implemented a “Muslim-Free Zone” policy [NY Daily News report] last summer placing a sign on the window. The owner, Chad Neal, has maintained that the policy is about safety.

Anti-Muslim sentiment is an international issue. Earlier this month Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused French officials of discriminating against Muslims [JURIST report] residing in France under the state of emergency law imposed in November. Many states have attempted to block the resettlement of Syrian refugees [JURIST report] citing security issues, though many have accused the more than 30 governors of pandering to Anti-Muslim sentiments. In November UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addressed [JURIST report] the UN General Assembly and cautioned the international community to avoid discrimination against Muslims, especially refugees and migrants entering Europe, as a result of the terrorist attacks in Paris a week earlier.