Muslim group sues Michigan sheriff over forced removal of hijab

LANSING, Michigan – A Muslim rights group has filed suit against the sheriff of Kent Country in Michigan for forcing a woman to remove her hijab for a photograph.

The lawsuit filed in court alleges the sheriff’s office violated the religious rights of 21-year-old Jannah Hague of Grand Rapids.

Staff attorney Amy Doukoure said the sheriff’s office insisted on taking one of her photos without her hijab and posting it on a public website.

“We believe that Kent County’s dual hijab policy or dual photograph policy is unnecessary. And that’s sort of what we have worked through with the city of Detroit, the city of Ferndale, and the Michigan Department of Corrections, and the lawsuits that we settled last year,” she said. 

The sheriff’s office said Hague was arrested on April 8 after an altercation at her home.

The attorney said wearing the hijab is part of the Muslim faith.

She added that taking off the hijab in front of unrelated men is highly offensive to practicing Muslim women.

She also said that it is important for Muslims to know exactly what their rights are when dealing with American law enforcement officials.

The attorney said a mere arrest does not mean someone is a criminal. Nor does it mean the person is deprived of all religious and constitutional rights.

“Policies are set by the jail or the institution and not necessarily through state law,” Dockoure explained.

“I don’t believe laws in any state protect women’s right to wear the hijab explicitly,” she added. 

She says it’s also important for Muslims to fully understand their rights when dealing with American law enforcement officials.

“Even if you are detained or you’re arrested by law enforcement, it does not — first of all — indicate you’re a criminal because you’re innocent till proven guilty in the United States,” Dockoure said. 

“And it also doesn’t mean that you have to be stripped of all your religious rights or even all your constitutional rights,” she added.