Ex-San Jose Muslim cop receives $400K settlement in harassment case

Nabil Haidar, had sued San Jose Police Department, asserting that he was persistently subjected to anti-Muslim comments

SAN JOSE, California – A former Lebanese-origin American police officer from San Jose, California, has been awarded a $400,000 settlement over allegations of harassment based on his Muslim faith.

Nabil Haidar, had sued the San Jose Police Department, asserting that he was persistently subjected to anti-Muslim comments, especially post the 9/11 attacks.

The lawsuit highlighted an incident from 2017 wherein a sergeant mockingly referred to Haidar as an “ISIS veteran” during a police briefing.

Following the 9/11 events, Haidar faced derogatory name-calling, such as “terrorist” and “suicide bomber,” as recounted by his attorney, Randall Strauss.

Court records indicate that two officers, including the sergeant involved in the mentioned incident, received a week’s suspension for their remarks.

Haidar took a medical leave in 2019, returned in 2021 on light duty, and sought retirement a year later.

Although the San Jose City Council approved the settlement, the city contested Haidar’s accusations.

They alleged that Haidar responded to the remarks with crude comments about an officer’s spouse and even made jokes about his Italian descent.

The Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations expressed its concerns over the department’s stance, urging them to utilize the settlement as a foundation for substantial reform and restoring community trust.