PARIS (AP) — Four former Muslim employees of a French airport security company, who were fired shortly after the 2015 Paris attacks because their beards were deemed too long, are suing their ex-employer.

They are claiming that they were victims of discrimination based on religion and physical appearance.

A labor court just outside Paris is expected to rule Thursday on whether the security guards were unfairly fired for refusing orders to trim their beards amid terrorism fears.

The four men are asking the court to order security firm Securitas to pay them 53,000 euros ($62,000) in damages each for unfair dismissals and discrimination.

Securitas has denied any discrimination and said it's "perfectly legitimate" to require its agents to wear a "short, trimmed and neat beard" because of the security missions they perform.