The New York Times has shined a national spotlight on a possible case of racial profiling and workplace discrimination. Two Shiite Muslims, Aliakbar Afshari and Shahla Afshari were fired for national security reasons that remain secret.

The Afshari's moved to the US from Iran 18 years ago and both were employees of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a federal agency that studies workplace hazards.

Allan Karlin is the lawyer representing Mr. and Mrs. Afshari.

[Karlin1] "Suddenly one day earlier this year they were called in and fired. Told only that they had failed a background check that they didn't even know they were being checked out on."

The Afshari's are asking the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services for back pay and reinstatement or the chance to appeal.