A former North Chicago police officer, who claimed he was the target of discrimination due to his national origin and Muslim faith, has settled his lawsuit with the city for a $475,000 win. According to the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, it helped broker the deal for Ramtin Sabet, an Iranian-born Muslim, whose tenure at the North Chicago police department was fraught with "relentless harassment."
As reported by the Chicago Tribune, Sabet joined the force back in 2007, only to be terminated in 2016 after being denied promotions and training opportunities, and after an investigation into his complaints was inexplicably turned against him. CAIR-Chicago has called this a landmark victory, highlighting the pervasiveness of workplace discrimination and stating their strong stance against it. Sabet filed his lawsuit the same year he was terminated, with CAIR stepping in to assist in the legal battle that was to only now reach its conclusion.
The CAIR-Chicago release detailed how Sabet painstakingly documented the abusive behavior he endured, from Islamophobic comments to derogatory statements about him and his family, which became critical evidence in presenting the toxic environment he endured. The case, initiated in 2016, faced a series of legal hurdles but was poised for trial in November 2023 before the settlement was reached.
"This settlement represents not only a personal victory but a triumph for everyone who has faced discrimination at the workplace," Sabet told CAIR-Chicago as he expressed his gratitude towards the organization for supporting him through the challenging ordeal. The attorney for the city declined to comment on the Friday settlement. Phil Robertson, Litigation Director for CAIR-Chicago, heralded the settlement as a message that workplace bullying and harassment will impermissibly be tolerated or swept under the rug.
