That's not a witch, that's a dental technician!

While it’s fair to say that the best work of dental technicians can resemble wizardry, one dental technician in Maryland is fighting her termination by claiming she was called “a witch” by co-workers at Fort Meade, Maryland. 

Ms. Deborah Schoenfeld, who practices Hinduism and has interests in Wiccan practices, was apparently referred to as a “Hindu witch,” according to sources contacted by the Air Force Times. She was later terminated for using profanity, a charge she disputes. Additionally, Shoenfeld allegedly was told she did not have the right to know who her accuser was.

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A letter from the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to the commander of Fort Mead provides a laundry list of additional grievances that Shoenfeld has against the Epes Dental Clinic at Fort Mead. They wrote:

• In her time at Epes Dental Clinic she was actually and specifically accused of “witchcraft" and "bringing demons into the office." She has been officially advised that she is not allowed to know who her accusers are.

• She has been openly disparaged for not having the same religious views as her superiors (evangelical Christian) and being "uninterested in taking part" in Christian rituals or the rampant and rapacious, workplace-based, evangelical Christian proselytizing which is outrageously and comprehensively supported by her former command.

• She has been admonished that practicing yoga is “satanic", and will "cost (her) her soul".

• She was advised by her chain of command to pray against the recent Supreme Court ruling against same sex marriage, as it is "an abomination to their religion”. (an employee in the office wanted all the civilians to pray against the legalization of same sex marriage at a clinic meeting)

• She was chastised for playing Indian music in the workplace as it was "not Christian," while Christian music was commonly played throughout the entirety of this armed forces dental clinic

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An Air Force spokesman told the Air Force Times that officials are looking into Shoenfeld’s claims. Hopefully it reaches the proper resolution. In the meantime, other dental technicians should be encouraged to continue their technical and esthetic wizardry-before and after Halloween.

Top photo: DNY59/Getty Images