CAIR-NY Welcomes Settlement with City for Muslim Women Forced to Remove Hijabs in Mugshot Photos
(NEW YORK, NY, 4/5/2024) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today welcomed a $17.5 million settlement between New York City and two women who were forced to remove their Islamic headscarves, or hijabs, before being photographed by police.
New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two women who were forced to remove their hijabs before the police took their arrest photographs. The financial settlement, which still requires approval by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, is the latest development in the class-action lawsuit filed in 2018 by Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz, two Muslim women who said they felt shamed and exposed by the police officers’ actions.
SEE: New York to Pay $17.5 Million for Forcing Removal of Hijabs in Mug Shots - The New York Times
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“Hopefully this settlement will send a resonating incentive to police departments in New York and around the country to respect the religious obligations of all people. We send our appreciation to the Muslim women who bravely persisted with this litigation, prompting policy change that benefit many with similar religious garb requirements.”
She noted that CAIR-NY also litigates against discriminatory hijab policies of police departments and were part of the initial legal team bringing this lawsuit and others.
SEE: CAIR-NY, ECBAWM File Lawsuit Against Suffolk County Police Department Over Forced Hijab Removal
SEE: CAIR-NY Wins $175K Settlement Over Yonkers Discriminatory ‘Hijab Removal’ Policy
CAIR-NY's mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR-NY es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT:
Afaf Nasher, Esq., CAIR-NY Executive Director, 917-669-4006, anasher@cair.com;
Lamya Agarwala, Esq., Supervising Attorney, LAgarwala@cair.com