Former San Jose police officer settles lawsuit alleging Islamophobic harassment
Haidar, who is of Lebanese descent, alleges that he was subjected to increased anti-Muslim comments after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks
SAN JOSE, California – Nabil Haidar, a former police officer, has settled a lawsuit with the San Jose Police Department in California.
In the lawsuit filed in 2018, he had alleged that he was constantly harassed and discriminated against because of his race, national origin, and religion.
The proposed settlement, outlined in a draft available on the city’s website, will be presented to the City Council for approval on Sept. 26.
If approved, San Jose will not admit guilt or assume liability for Haidar’s allegations.
Haidar, who is of Lebanese descent, alleged that he was subjected to increased anti-Muslim comments after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
He claims that the prejudicial comments falsely associated him with terrorist groups and car bombings.
He also mentions an incident from a police briefing in November 2017.
During the briefing, when veterans were being recognized, a sergeant jokingly said that Haidar had been with ISIS for two years.
The city acknowledged the incident and punished both the sergeant and another officer with one-week suspensions for their Islamophobic remarks.
Haidar’s legal counsel did not comment on the tentative settlement.
The city’s legal documents also note Haidar’s inappropriate behavior.
They refer to an instance in which he allegedly made an inappropriate remark about the constable’s wife and mocked the constable’s Italian heritage.
The city’s defense is based on the idea that Haidar’s legal actions were influenced by his own week-long suspension on misconduct charges.
Haidar claims that after the lawsuit was filed, an unidentified San Jose Police Department official harassed him and his attorneys via a Twitter alias.
Police Chief Anthony Mata confirmed in an affidavit that the owner of the Twitter account was likely an officer and assured that they would investigate the matter.
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