Mercedes-Benz of Beaverton(crop).JPG

Mercedes-Benz of Beaverton is on Canyon Road.

(The Oregonian/file photo)

An Iranian-born Muslim accuses three luxury auto dealerships in the Portland metropolitan area - all his former employers - of racial and religious harassment that put him out of a job.

Masoud Faraji, a 46-year-old Lake Oswego resident, alleges in court papers that in 2013 coworkers at Lithia's Beaverton Mercedes-Benz repeatedly called him a "terrorist," mocked his religion and told him he needed to be "hung" from the dealership's Mercedes sign.

Before that, Faraji alleges, coworkers at Kuni BMW refused to let him use the bathroom because it was for "whites only," wouldn't allow him use of a small room to pray, and told him that "Muslims need to be removed from the planet."

Faraji filed a federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint against Kuni BMW, but that dispute was resolved, said Clarence Belnavis, outside counsel for Kuni BMW.

"Frankly, we enjoyed working with Mr. Faraji," Belnavis said. "Kuni BMW does not engage in discriminatory conduct. We had a dispute with him back in (2008) over one or two issues in the workplace," and they resolved the complaint. "We disagreed with his allegations that he wasn't being treated appropriately."

Falaji is now in private arbitration with Lithia over his allegations against Beaverton Mercedes.

"We have conducted a thorough investigation and do not believe that there is any merit to the allegations," said Eugene attorney Michael H. Long, who represents Lithia. "We are in the process of defending Mr. Faraji's claims in arbitration and expect to prevail."

Now Falaji has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Swickard Corporation, which bought Wilsonville Mercedes-Benz from Lithia last year.

Faraji accuses the dealership of discriminating against him because its general manager terminated his employment on April 30, 2014, telling him he was not being retained because he wasn't needed. He now alleges that the general manager, who kept his own job, failed to hire him because of his race, national origin and his opposition to illegal discrimination.

"We're surprised to hear he's suing us," said Jeff Swickard, who owns the company. Faraji was never an employee, he pointed out, "We have no relationship with him."

-- Bryan Denson

503-294-7614; @Bryan_Denson