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New York, United States of America (USA)
A lady carrying a U.S. flag hijab is pictured throughout an I’m Muslim Too rally in Times Square, Manhattan, New York, U.S. February 19, 2017. (Reuters File Photo)
New York City settles lawsuit with Muslim ladies pressured to take away hijabs for $17.5 million. Case highlights non secular rights and police practices
New York City has agreed to pay USD 17.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by two Muslim ladies who had been pressured to take away their head coverings in 2017 to be photographed after they had been arrested.
The case was filed months later in 2018, by Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz who mentioned they felt shamed and uncovered after they had been pressured to take away their hijabs after they had been arrested. The lawsuit mentioned cops threatened to prosecute Clark, who was sobbing after being arrested for violating a bogus protecting order filed by her abusive former husband if she didn’t take away her head overlaying.
‘I felt as if I were naked’
The lawsuit mentioned Aziz, who additionally had been arrested due to a bogus protecting order, felt damaged when her image was taken the place a dozen male cops and greater than 30 male inmates may see her. “When they forced me to take off my hijab, I felt as if I were naked. I’m not sure if words can capture how exposed and violated I felt,” Clark, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press (AP), in an announcement. “I’m so proud today to have played a part in getting justice for thousands of New Yorkers.”
Clark was arrested on Jan. 9, 2017, and Aziz was arrested on Aug. 30, 2017. New York officers initially defended the observe of forcing folks to take away head coverings for mug pictures, saying the coverage balanced respect for non secular customs with “the legitimate law enforcement need to take arrest photos.” Later, the police division modified the coverage in 2020 as a part of an preliminary settlement of the lawsuit and mentioned it will permit arrested folks to maintain their head coverings on for mug pictures with restricted exceptions reminiscent of if the pinnacle overlaying obscures the individual’s facial options.
Mug pictures
The monetary settlement was filed Friday and requires approval by Judge Analisa Torres of Manhattan federal court docket. In an announcement, metropolis legislation division spokesperson Nick Paolucci mentioned that the settlement resulted in a optimistic reform for the police division and “was in the best interest of all parties.” Paolucci mentioned the proceeds from the settlement will likely be shared by greater than 4,000 folks.
O Andrew F Wilson, a lawyer who’s representing the ladies, mentioned, “Forcing someone to remove their religious clothing is like a strip search. This substantial settlement recognises the profound harm to the dignity of those who wear religious head coverings that come from forced removal.” Wilson mentioned that after the settlement is authorised, the funds will likely be divided equally amongst everybody who responds by a deadline set by the choose, with a assured minimal fee of $7,824 for every eligible individual.
(With company inputs)
