Yonkers Police Will End ‘Hijab Removal’ Policy To Settle Lawsuit

YONKERS, NY — The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) is celebrating a $175,000 dollar settlement from the city of Yonkers over a controversial “no hijab” policy for Muslims in police custody.

Although the group says the settlement might be the largest ever of its kind, a CAIR-NY spokesperson says an agreement to end the policy which forced arrestees to remove hijabs and other religious attire for mug shots and while in custody is even more important. The organization says the reforms will put Yonkers Police Department rules in line with other police departments across the country.

“The policy changes we have obtained from the City of Yonkers will bring an end to its discriminatory practice of forcing Muslim women to remove their hijabs in violation of their religious principles,” CAIR-NY Legal Director Ahmed Mohamed said in a statement announcing the legal victory. “This policy change is long overdue, and we hope this settlement will give other law enforcement agencies around the state an incentive to correct their discriminatory policies and respect a Muslim woman’s right to her hijab.”

The lawsuit was filed against the Yonkers Police Department in April 2020, after Ihsan Malkawi, a practicing Muslim, was forced to remove her hijab for a mug shot and then spent nearly 36 hours in custody without being allowed to wear her Islamic head scarf.

As part of the settlement, the department agreed to provide additional training for officers and will report any prior instances in which Muslims were required to remove religious garments after being arrested.