DETROIT— Years after the Suburban Mobility
Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) began appealing a Michigan Civil
Rights Commission ruling in favor of an Iraqi former bus mechanic who’d endured
discrimination, SMART has decided to forego any further appeals.

SMART
now must pay Mazyn Barash, 57, of Farmington Hills $503,000.

As
a bus mechanic for SMART, Barash, a Chaldean American who was born in Iraq,
suffered ethnic intimidation from managers and coworkers after the 9/11 attacks.
The abuse only escalated after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Barash
was called derogatory names and was referred to often as “Saddam.” He became
emotionally distraught when his co-workers chatted about killing Iraqis while
in his presence. He also suffered depression and anxiety as a result of
workplace discrimination.

On
one occasion someone attached a picture of a terrorist to Barash’s time card.

Barash’s
discrimination case started in 2003, when he filed his initial
complaint with the Civil Rights Commission.  In 2011, the commission ruled in
Barash’s favor. SMART officials appealed and put him through hearings for
almost two years. 

Bloomfield
Hills Attorney Barry Goldman, the hearing officer on the case, ruled that the
ethnic intimidation of Barash was acceptable because of the perceptions many
Americans had about Middle Eastern Americans after 9/11. The commission
subsequently overturned Goldman’s ruling.

“After years of denial, delay and substantial expenditure
of taxpayer dollars, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional
Transportation (SMART) has finally decided not to file any additional appeals
in this matter and do the right thing — recognize that Mr. Barash was
intimidated and harassed in its work environment because of his Iraqi heritage
and pay him damages,” Michigan Civil Rights Commission Chair Arthur Horwitz
said in a statement issued Tuesday. “The Civil Rights Commission is hopeful
that SMART’s work environment has become more inclusive and tolerant since Mr.
Barash first claimed discrimination.”

Barash
emigrated to the U.S. from Iraq to escape religious persecution when he was
9-years-old.

“The healing process for Mazyn and his family can
now begin,” said Shereef Akeel, Barash’s attorney.

Akeel said that throughout the whole ordeal Barash
has received an immense amount of support from his family.

“The whole family, his wife, sister, daughter and
son, were all seeking justice,” Akeel said. “It was not just an affront to Mazyn.
It was an affront to his whole family.”

Barash
has a 28-year-old son and a 22-year-old daughter.

“My
daughter has dealt with this case now for half her life,” he said.

He
also said his experience has made him more passionate about fighting
discrimination. He plans on getting involved in the civil rights by joining the
newly-formed Civil Liberties Advocates (CLA), a group created by members of the
Chaldean community. He said that at the time the harassment occurred, there was
no group established to handle civil rights cases involving Chaldean Americans.

 “I am very passionate about fighting
discrimination and I am going to be very involved moving forward,” he said. “And
I am going to help anyone who is facing discrimination, not just Arabs and
Chaldeans.”

He encourages others who face ethnic intimidation in
the workplace to document their experiences and come forward, regardless of the
backlash they may experience from co-workers or management.

Barash also suggested that people turn to community
organizations for help. He was employed by SMART for 17 years. 

“I’m relieved at the fact that SMART admitted to
guilt,” Barash said.