Seven men are suing Norwegian Cruise Line alleging the company violated their civil rights by firing them because of their Middle Eastern origin and Muslim faith.

The federal complaint was filed in U.S. District Court in Honolulu yesterday by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of Abdullah Yahva, Ahmed Al-Mlhany, Ahmed Almraisi, Nagi A. Alziam, Muthana A. Shaibi, Nork Yafaie and Samed Kassam. Named as defendants were NCL America Inc., Norwegian Cruise Line Ltd., and Norwegian Corp. Ltd., which operate cruises in Hawaiian waters.

The men worked on NCL's Pride of Aloha until they were fired in "quick succession" beginning in July 2004, said Anna Park, regional attorney in the EEOC's Los Angeles office. The men are of Middle Eastern or Yemeni origins and all are Muslims, the lawsuit said.

"They were all hired around the same time, came on board and all pretty much fired," Park said. [Link]