CAIR-NY Applauds Transport Workers Union of America’s Officers’ Refusal to Obey Order to Remove Students’ Hijabs at Barnard College
(NEW YORK, NY, 3/19/2024) - The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today applauded the actions of Transport Workers Union of America security officers who defied alleged orders from a security officer at Barnard College to remove hijabs from female Muslim students and called on Barnard College to revisit its policies.
A Barnard college official allegedly authorized and encourage campus security officers to have female Muslim students remove their hijabs when checking security passes. TWU officers reportedly refused.
In a statement, CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher said:
“The alleged actions of a Barnard college official not only violate the religious freedoms and dignity of these students but also perpetuate discrimination and Islamophobia within the academic environment.
“We commend the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) officers for refusing to comply with this alleged unjust and discriminatory directive. Their actions exemplify a commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their religious beliefs or practices.
“We call on Barnard College to immediately investigate this matter and take concrete steps to ensure that such discriminatory practices are not tolerated on its campus. Institutions of higher learning have a responsibility to uphold principles of inclusivity, diversity, and respect for all members of their community. It is imperative that Barnard College reaffirms its commitment to these principles and takes proactive measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.”
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;
Rabea Ali, CAIR-NY Communications Coordinator, 347-651-0954, rali@cair.com;