SAN FRANSICO — This week, a federal judge ruled against the Abercrombie & Fitch, Co. for allegedly firing a Muslim woman for wearing a headscarf at work. 

Hani Khan, a former stockroom worker at an Abercrombie & Fitch location, had filed a lawsuit in 2011 for being fired after refusing to remove her headscarf when a district manager had told her it violated their ‘look policy.’

Khan, had been working at the location in San Mateo County for four months and had been following the company’s rules, which included wearing flip flops, long sleeved shirts and jeans that she bought from the trendy clothing store.

However, a district manager took issue with her headscarf upon visiting the store, claiming it was a violation of the company’s dress code, telling Khan she couldn’t work on the floor as long as she wore it. 

Abercrombie has long been criticized for its hiring practices, often for favoring more attractive job applicants who fit the retailer’s young, preppy look. When Khan’s case landed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a federal office that oversees employee rights, attorneys there were already working on two similar cases involving Abercrombie.

Khan’s case heads to trial later to determine what damages Abercrombie owes her.