Temple University, police forcibly remove hijab

Temple University and Philadelphia police are facing accusations of an attack on a Muslim student. 

This is after Johara Shamaa reported that her hijab was forcibly removed and that she was held without it for 20 hours after being arrested at a free Palestine campus demonstration on September 26.

She said this is a violation of her religious rights. 

Despite explaining the religious significance of the hijab, she says she was not allowed to cover herself and was forced to pose for a mugshot without it. Shama described it as an “act of humiliation.”

Temple University’s Department of Public Safety denied the claims of brutality, specifically rejecting the accusation that a hijab was forcibly removed. 

Philadelphia police say their current policies do not specifically address the wearing of religious garments during booking. 

Police clarified Shama was allowed to wear her hijab in common areas but they had it removed for her booking photograph.