Woman sues, says police forced her to remove scarf

DEARBORN (AP) - A Muslim woman is suing a Michigan police department, saying her rights were violated when she was ordered to remove a headscarf for a mugshot after her arrest.

Maha Aldhalimi was told that she was wanted for an unpaid parking violation. She says she was ordered to remove the headscarf, known as hijab, for a photo at the Dearborn Police Department last September.

Aldhalimi says she was crying while explaining that removing the scarf in front of male strangers would violate her religious beliefs. She says she finally agreed to remove it under threat.

Lawyers for Aldhalimi filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Detroit federal court, accusing Dearborn police of violating federal law. The city declined to comment.

Published: Thu, Jul 02, 2015