New York City Agrees to Pay $17.5 Million in Settlement Over Hijab Removal

New York City to Pay $17.5 Million in Settlement for Violating Muslim Women's Religious Rights

Following a class action lawsuit, New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to compensate Muslim women who were forced to remove their hijabs for mugshots after being arrested. The preliminary financial settlement, filed in Manhattan federal court, is still pending approval from a district court judge.

Two women, Jamilla Clark and Arwa Aziz, initiated the lawsuit in 2018 after being arrested in Manhattan and Brooklyn for violating orders of protection that they considered unjust. The settlement, if approved, will benefit more than 3,600 individuals.

Impact on the Plaintiffs

Clark and Aziz expressed feeling shame and trauma after being obliged to take off their hijabs, equating the experience to being strip-searched. Clark stated, "When they forced me to take off my hijab, I felt as if I were naked. I'm not sure if words can capture how exposed and violated I felt." Their attorneys emphasized the violation of their clients' religious rights and privacy.

Financial Settlement Details

The total payouts will amount to approximately $13.1 million after deducting legal fees and costs. Depending on the number of eligible class members who file claims, the individual compensations will range from $7,824 to $13,125.

Legal Perspective

Albert Fox Cahn, the lawyer representing Clark and Aziz, hailed the settlement as a significant victory for New Yorkers' religious and privacy rights. He emphasized that the agreement sends a resounding message that the NYPD cannot infringe upon individuals' First Amendment rights without consequences.

NYPD's Response and Prior Case

In response to the lawsuit, the New York Police Department had previously agreed in 2020 to allow individuals to retain head coverings during mugshots as long as their faces were visible. Nicholas Paolucci, a spokesperson for the city's law department, described the settlement as a positive reform for the NYPD, emphasizing the balance between respecting religious beliefs and the necessity of obtaining arrest photos.

This suit follows a 2018 case where New York City paid $180,000 to three Muslim women after they were similarly compelled to remove their hijabs for mugshots.