The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations said Wednesday it has filed a complaint with state’s Department of Civil Rights, alleging a Corewell Health employee posted on social media that she is a “proud Islamophobe.”
“No patient should have to wonder whether the person responsible for their care harbors hatred toward their faith, and no employee should have to work alongside someone who proudly advertises bigotry against Muslims,” said Executive Director Dawud Walid in a statement. “Hospitals are places where trust is essential. When healthcare professionals publicly embrace Islamophobia, it undermines that trust and threatens the safety and dignity of both staff and patients.”
Michigan Department of Civil Rights officials were not immediately available Wednesday for comment.
Corewell Health said it does not comment on personnel matters.
The system included in its statement: “We support a safe, welcoming environment for all patients and team members and do not condone discrimination or harassment.”
CAIR-MI alleges an employee of the health care system publicly said in her posts that she worked for Corewell Health and shared posts expressing hostility toward Muslims. She also allegedly advocated discriminatory treatment toward Muslim communities, including calls to ban Islam and close mosques.
Furthermore, the same woman also disparaged other racial minority groups and persons of color in other social media posts, according to the group. CAIR said her posts raise broader concerns about discriminatory bias and hostility toward protected communities.
CAIR officials also said multiple complaints have been made about the same employee to Corewell Health over two years, but the company has failed to take corrective action.
“When someone responsible for caring for vulnerable patients publicly identifies themselves as a ‘proud Islamophobe,’ it raises serious concerns about bias in healthcare,” said Amy Doukoure, CAIR-MI’s lead staff attorney, in a statement. “Patients should never have to question whether the person treating them harbors hostility toward their faith, race, or identity. Healthcare institutions have a responsibility to confront bigotry — not ignore it.”
The incident emerged the same week the national CAIR reported it had received 8,683 complaints of anti-Muslim acts nationwide in 2025. CAIR said it was the highest number of single-year complaints the group had recorded since publishing its first civil rights report covering 1996.
“Anti-Muslim narratives more clearly resurfaced in 2025, particularly the notion that the religious principles followed by Muslims are inherently threatening and anti-American,” CAIR officials said in a statement Tuesday.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
@CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan Muslim group files state complaint over Corewell Health worker
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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