Michigan: Hamas-linked CAIR files federal lawsuit after Muslima forced to remove hijab for booking photo
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) has filed a federal lawsuit against Kent County, the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and Sheriff Michelle LaJoye-Young after a Muslim woman was forced to remove her hijab for a booking photo. The lawsuit claims that Jannah Hague’s civil rights were violated when she was arrested and detained in the Kent County Jail in 2023. According to CAIR-MI, Hague’s booking photo without her hijab was published on the Kent County Sheriff’s Office public website, and it remains on law enforcement databases, creating a permanent public record.
CAIR-MI issued a notice of claim after the arrest, notifying the Kent County Sheriff’s Office of the civil rights violation and requesting compensation. However, the booking photo without the hijab still remains in law enforcement databases. The purpose of the lawsuit is to protect Hague from any further harm that may occur if her image is released publicly again. CAIR-MI staff attorney Amy V. Doukoure stated that they are holding Kent County accountable for violating Hague’s rights and their continued disregard for the harm caused by releasing her photo. The lawsuit also criticizes the Kent County Sheriff’s Office for a policy that puts the rights of religiously-observant women at risk.
This case reflects a larger issue regarding the tension between religious freedom and security procedures. While the removal of headgear, including hijabs, for booking photos is a standard procedure for purposes of identification and security, CAIR-MI argues that this practice infringes on the religious rights of Muslim women. They contend that Muslim women should be exempt from such procedures due to their religious observance. However, authorities argue that the rule applies to everyone and is not specific to Muslim women, as it is important to ensure the safety of both detainees and security personnel.
The filing of this lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions by CAIR and its clients in various states, which they claim are necessary to protect the rights of Muslim individuals. Critics argue that these lawsuits serve as a means for CAIR, which has been linked to Hamas, to promote the idea that Muslims are a special class deserving of privileges not enjoyed by other groups. They claim that CAIR manipulates incidents like this to fabricate instances of discrimination against Muslims in the United States.
It remains to be seen how the lawsuit will progress and if it will have broader implications for how law enforcement agencies handle the religious rights of individuals during the booking process. This case raises important questions about the balance between religious freedom and security procedures, and may contribute to ongoing discussions about the treatment of religious minorities in the criminal justice system.
