[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] A Target store in a Minneapolis suburb cordoned off a hallway with six changing rooms, seemingly to convert at least part of the space into a Muslim prayer area.
The store is located in Apple Valley, Minnesota, which is just south of the Twin Cities. A concerned customer took photographs of the repurposed area and sent them to Alpha News.
The pictures show retractable belts sectioning off both sides of the hallway, as well as a sign on one of the doors that said, 'RAMADAN MUBARAK,' a traditional Arabic greeting during the Muslim holy month.
The month of fasting took place from the evening of February 17 to sundown on March 18, meaning it ended about two and a half months ago. It is unclear why the sign was still up when the customer took the photos.
The sign also said, 'This room is being used for prayer. Please do not enter.' Whether the room was meant for customers or employees to pray is also unclear.
The Daily Mail reached out to Target about the many questions surrounding the sign, including how long it has been up, when it might be taken down and whether other stores have made similar accommodations for Muslim prayer.
According to the federal Civil Rights Act, businesses must provide 'reasonable accommodation' to employees' religious beliefs and practices, though there is no mandate to create spaces specifically dedicated to prayer or other religious needs.
Despite that lack of a legal mandate to create prayer spaces, it appears that the Apple Valley location is not the only Target store to have created an area dedicated to Muslim prayer. |