Santa Clara County Settles with Muslim Woman over Hijab Removal in Jail

WASHINGTON, DC (IQNA) – A Muslim woman who had her hijab forcibly removed while being booked into jail last year has reached a $90,000 settlement with Santa Clara County.

Asia Aden said she felt violated when jail staff took off her hijab and did not return it until she was released days later.

The county also agreed to work with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a civil rights group, to improve its policy on accommodating religious practices in jail, CBS News reported on Monday.

According to the policy, Muslim women are allowed to keep their hijabs or get a jail-issued religious covering, and they can be searched in private or away from male staff.

"We urge more municipalities to follow Santa Clara County's example by reviewing and implementing policies to ensure everyone's constitutional rights are protected, regardless of faith," said CAIR lawyer Jeffrey Wang.

Source: Agencies