Muslim Women Sue Orange County Over Forced Hijab Removal During Protest
The lawsuit, filed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Asian Law Caucus (ALC), claims Salma Nasoordeen and Shenai Aini were subjected to religious discrimination during their arrests at a May 15, 2024, demonstration over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Nasoordeen alleges a deputy tore off her hijab and stepped on it, exposing her hair to media cameras.
Both women say they were later ordered to remove their head coverings in front of male officers for booking photos, violating their religious beliefs.
"I've never in my life had to remove my hijab for any government identification photos," said Nasoordeen, ABC7 reported. "My ID, my passport, none of that. I kept thinking to myself, 'Is this really happening? Is this allowed? Is this different because I'm in jail? Do I really not have the right to keep it on here?'"
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"I want to make it clear that my hijab is the ultimate sign of my faith," said Aini. "It serves as my identity, my protection, and my faith. A year later, I'm still deeply affected. I still hear my pleas to be covered."
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department denied the allegations, saying that booking photos are not publicly released and that women removed hijabs only in private with female deputies present.
Officials called CAIR-LA’s claims "misleading." The county declined further comment, citing pending litigation.
Source: Agencies
