State’s First Muslim Legislator Unveils Egregiously Discriminatory Hiring Policy

Colorado Democratic state senator Iman Jodeh advertised a paid Capitol internship whose first listed qualification is that applicants identify as Muslim or as Middle Eastern, North African or South Asian. The wording has prompted criticism and questions about whether the programme complies with laws against discrimination in public employment.

The internship is offered through the MENASA and Muslim Joint Legislative Caucus, with a $1,000 stipend. Other stated requirements include undergraduate study, a minimum 3.5 GPA and availability for part-time work during the 2027 legislative session. Federal law bars hiring discrimination based on religion and national origin, and Colorado law also protects against such discrimination; Jodeh and the relevant federal agencies had not responded to the article’s requests for comment.