The Austin, Texas, chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Austin) today condemned the reported violation of the constitutional rights of several female students arrested during anti-genocide protests at the University of Texas campus on April 24, 2024, by the Travis County Sheriff’s Office.
The female students reported denial of menstrual supplies, sanitary products, and religious observance and expression for hours and faced severe mishandling and disrespect of their religious freedom by the arresting officers.
One student was allegedly forced to remain in menstrual blood-stained clothes for hours despite repeated requests for menstrual supplies. She was also reportedly denied soap to wash with, forcing her to remain with menstrual blood-stained hands for hours risking her health and others and stripping her of basic human dignity.
The female students were also reportedly denied their rights to appropriate religious covering.
A female student’s hijab (religious head cover) was allegedly forcibly removed during her arrest and subsequently denied for multiple hours. Other female students reported being denied long-sleeved modest clothes despite repeated requests. Some female students were allegedly forced to change their clothing in a public area, visible to male officers and other detainees.
One student recounted trying to cover her torso, while being searched in front of male officers, only to be told by the searching officer that she perceived her attempt to lower her shirt as a “threat.” Muslim female students were allegedly forced to take their mugshots without appropriate religious clothing and were told by the sheriff’s office that the mugshots would remain in a file instead of being destroyed.
Finally, another student reported asking for necessary garments to fulfill her five daily prayers only to be dismissed and passed along from one officer to another, leaving her with no option but to pray sitting down without a hijab, arm covering, or prayer mat.
In a statement, CAIR-Austin said:
“This conduct the students allegedly faced while being detained is in direct violation of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000cc, et seq. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, and this right extends to all individuals, including those in custody.
“The actions reportedly taken against these students are not only a violation of this fundamental right but also a failure of the system to accommodate female detainees with basic human, feminine, and religious needs. We urge all the community stakeholders to support these students and speak up against such egregious acts.
“CAIR Austin stands with the affected female students and demands that their rights be fully restored and safeguarded and we are calling for immediate action from the Travis County Sheriff’s Office to:
- Implement comprehensive training for all officers on cultural competence, female hygienic needs and Muslim religious accommodations pertaining to attire and practices.
- Establish and enforce, with appropriate consequences, clear policies that respect and protect human dignity and religious attire of all detainees, especially females.
“We must remind our institutions that protecting constitutional rights is a cornerstone of our democracy. It is imperative that the Travis County Sheriff’s Office and all law enforcement agencies uphold these principles without prejudice or negligence.”
[NOTE: CAIR Austin and PSC held a press conference on April 29, 2024 to give a platform for the students who were arrested on April 24, 2024, to give their testimonies after UT Austin president Hartzell issued a statement that justifies and mitigates the brutal arrests and treatment of the peacefully-protesting students]
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Shaimaa Zayan Operations Manager CAIR Austin,(512) 785-7105, shaimaa.zayan@cairtx.org