CAIR-NY Wins $175K Settlement Over Yonkers Discriminatory ‘Hijab Removal’ Policy
(NEW YORK, NY, 4/20/2021) – The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, and the law firm of Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP (ECBAWM), a leading civil rights firm, today announced a settlement that will end the Yonkers Police Department’s discriminatory “hijab removal” policy.
That policy forced arrestees to remove hijabs (Islamic head scarves) and other religious attire for mug shots and while in custody. As part of the settlement, the City of Yonkers agreed to pay $175,000 in damages, which may be the largest-ever settlement in such cases.
CAIR-NY Legal Director Ahmed Mohamed stated:
“The policy changes we have obtained from the City of Yonkers will bring an end to its discriminatory practice of forcing Muslim women to remove their hijabs in violation of their religious principles. This policy change is long overdue, and we hope this settlement will give other law enforcement agencies around the state an incentive to correct their discriminatory policies and respect a Muslim woman’s right to her hijab.”
Click Here to Read the Settlement and New Policy
CAIR-NY and ECBAWM filed the lawsuit against Yonkers Police Department (YPD) on April 8, 2020, after Ihsan Malkawi, a practicing Muslim woman, was forced to remove her hijab for a mug shot and endured 36 hours in YPD custody without her hijab.
The Settlement will bring YPD in line with municipalities across the country that allow arrestees to retain their religious head coverings during custody. As part of the Settlement, YPD will also develop and implement trainings to ensure proper implementation of the new policy. Over the next three years, YPD will report the number of arrestees whose religious head coverings were removed to CAIR-NY and ECBAWM as part of the enforcement of the Agreement.
READ COMPLAINT HERE: cair-ny.org/s/Complaint-Malkawi-v-City-of-Yonkers.pdf
SEE: CAIR-NY, ECBA File Civil Rights Class Action Lawsuit Against City of Yonkers for the Forcible Removable of Religious Head Covering
https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-ny-ecba-file-civil-rights-class-action-lawsuit-against-city-of-yonkers-for-the-forcible-removable-of-religious-head-covering/
Muslim Woman Sues Police In Yonkers, New York, For Forced Hijab Removal
In 2018, CAIR-NY and ECBA filed a similar class action lawsuit against the NYPD for its photograph policy. That lawsuit remains pending in federal court.
SEE: NY-Times – Hijab Removal by the New York Police Prompts a Lawsuit
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/nyregion/hijab-police-lawsuit-new-york.html
SEE: CAIR-NY, ECBA File Civil Rights Class Action Lawsuit to Block NYPD From Removing Arrestees’ Hijabs for Booking Photos
In November 2020, the NYPD agreed to end their discriminatory “hijab removal” policy.
SEE: N.Y.P.D. Will No Longer Force Women to Remove Hijabs for Mug Shots
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/09/nyregion/hijab-muslim-nypd-mugshot-scarves.html
CAIR-New York is a chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
END
CONTACT: Ahmed Mohamed, CAIR-NY Legal Director, 646-481-2103, ahmedmohamed@cair.com; Afaf Nasher, CAIR-NY Executive Director; anasher@cair.com; 917-669-4006