On Monday May 2nd, the Greater Los Angeles Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) today announced the filing of a lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court on behalf of a Muslim woman who allegedly had her religious head scarf (hijab) forcibly removed by a male officer of the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD).
Kirsty Powell and her husband, who are both African-American, were driving near Market St. and Long Beach Boulevard when they were pulled over by the LBPD. Powell was arrested on an outstanding warrant. During the arrest she was told by the officers that she would have to remove her head scarf. Powell made several requests for a female officer to search her. The officers informed her that she, “was not allowed to wear her hijab” and that they were “allowed to touch a woman.”
While handcuffed at the station house, the arresting officer allegedly forcibly removed Powell’s religious head covering and forced her to remain exposed overnight, in plain view of other male officers and dozens of inmates.
CAIR-LA has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Powell.
Here is a list of news coverage this case received:
Muslim Woman Sues City of Long Beach, Police Claiming Officer Forcibly Removed Hijab | Long Beach Post
Muslim woman alleges in lawsuit that Long Beach police forcibly removed her hijab during arrest | Long Beach Press Telegram
California Muslims file lawsuits over hijab discrimination | The Nation
Muslim Organization Sues Long Beach Police for Removing Woman’s Hijab | Gazettes
Seeking Justice for Woman Stripped of Her Hijab by Police | The Daily Outrage, CCR blog
Muslim Woman Sues California Police who ‘forcibly’removed her hijab | MSN
Long Beach Sued over Cop’s Removal of Muslim Woman’s Hijab | OC Weekly
Muslim Woman Sues California Police who ‘forcibly’ removed her hijab |The Daily Dot
Muslim Woman Sues California Police over headscarf removal | Fox News
Muslim Woman Sues California Police for Forcibly Removing her headscarf | Lawyer Herald
Muslim Woman suing Long Beach Police for Forcibly Removing her Hijab, Complaint Says | LAist
Did Long Beach Police Strip Muslim Woman of her Hijab? | My News LA
California Muslims Sue over hijab discrimination | Raw Story
California Muslims Sue over hijab discrimination | Digital Journal
Muslim Women file two lawsuits against hijab in California | The American Bazaar
California Muslims Sue over hijab discrimination | Dawn News, Pakistan
California Muslims Sue over hijab discrimination | The Sun Daily
Muslim Woman Sues Police Over Headscarf Removal | CBS
Muslim Woman Sues California Police over Hijab Removal | Press TV
California Muslim Woman files lawsuit alleging discrimination | International Business Times
Muslim Woman Sues US Police fore Removing her Headscarf | Shahernama
CAIR-LA Files Federal LAwsuit Accusing Long Beach Police of Stripping Woman of Hijab | Truthdig
LBPD Sued for Discrimination for Allegedly Removing Woman’s Head Scarf | Patch
U.S. Muslim woman sues police for removing her headscarf | Middle East Eye
