The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued Merrill Lynch over the alleged discrimination of a former employee because of his Iranian origin and Muslim faith, according to a court filing on Tuesday.

Merrill Lynch discriminated against Majid Borumand by failing to promote him and terminating him because of his national origin and faith, the commission alleged in its complaint, filed in the U.S. federal court in Manhattan.

Borumand, who was a quantitative analyst at Merrill, was subject to a number of remarks that reflected animosity toward his origin and faith, the complaint alleged.

Borumand was told "the reason that you are not allowed on the trading floor is because you are from a country which has a high risk factor and a threat," according to the complaint. [Link]