OKLAHOMA CITY – Two U.S. activists groups filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday
against a rural Oklahoma gun range, arguing that it violated U.S. civil rights
laws by posting a sign that said the business was “Muslim free” and
barring a Muslim from shooting there.

The lawsuit by the Council on American-Islamic Relations
Oklahoma Chapter and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma seeks to
have the Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear store in Oktaha end what the
plaintiffs said is blatant discrimination.

The gun store and range about 120 miles (190 km) east of
Oklahoma City, posted a store window sign that reads: “This privately
owned business is a Muslim Free establishment.”

It has a posting on its Facebook page saying it will not allow
media access or interviews.

The groups filed the lawsuit on behalf of Raja’ee Fatihah, a
U.S. Army reservist and investigator for the Oklahoma Department of Human
Services, after he said he was kicked out of the range for being a Muslim.

Fatihah told a news conference on Wednesday he visited the gun
range to talk with the owners about their fear of the Muslim faith. The owners
asked him to leave, he said.

“Shooting is something I do as a hobby, and I also practice
to keep up my skills as a reservist. When I went to the range, it went normally
until I told them I was Muslim,” said Fatihah.

“The longer we talked, the less willing they were to allow
me to use their facilities. Ultimately, they asked me to leave,” he said.

Save Yourself Survival and Tactical Gear store did not respond
to requests to comment. It has 20 days to make a formal response to the
lawsuit.

A lawyer representing the store said the case is not about
religious discrimination, but instead about public safety.

“The law does not require a gun shop or gun range owner –
owners of an inherently dangerous business – to equip or train the next
jihadist,” said Robert Muise with the American Freedom Law Center.

Brady Henderson, legal director for the ACLU of Oklahoma, said
he hoped the lawsuit would set a nationwide precedent against businesses
discriminating against any citizens based on faith.

“The
Oklahoma case isn’t just about what’s going on in our state, but the nation,”
Henderson said at the news conference.