Muslim group seeks rehiring of Wal-Mart US worker

HAMBURG, New York (AP) A Muslim advocacy group is asking Wal-Mart to rehire a worker who posted derogatory comments about Muslim customers on Facebook and was fired last week.

Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council On American-Islamic Relations, said Friday that the group had accepted Terrance Earsing's apology and, in a letter to Wal-Mart U.S. President and Chief Executive William Simon, urged the retailer to do the same.

Earsing was an assistant manager at a Wal-Mart in the Buffalo suburb of Hamburg. Along with a picture of Muslim women in traditional dress, his expletive-filled posting read: "Halloween came early this year. ... Do they really have to ... dress like that."

"After the incident, we have engaged in conversations with Mr. Earsing on the situation and have come to the conclusion that Mr. Earsing is truly apologetic and will try to engage in more community and religious tolerance dialogues to ensure no future religious discrimination situations occur," the letter to Wal-Mart from CAIR-NY Board President Ryan Mahoney said.

"With Mr. Earsing's apology, we hope that Wal-Mart will accept his apology and if possible provide him employment," the letter said.

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Spokeswoman Ashley Hardie said Wal-Mart Stores Inc. would not comment on the letter, dated Wednesday. Earlier, the company said Earsing had failed to meet the company's expectations.