The Maryland office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on the Howard County Police Department to investigate a report of alleged bias-motivated harassment targeting a Howard County Muslim woman wearing a Palestinian keffiyeh.
According to the complainant, the most recent incident occurred on the evening of July 12 in her residential community in West Friendship. She reported that while walking alone in a secluded stretch of her neighborhood, she was approached by a neighbor who challenged her decision to wear a keffiyeh and allegedly demanded that she “stop wearing it in her neighborhood.”
The complainant reported feeling unsafe during the encounter and alleges that the same neighbor has engaged in a pattern of concerning behavior, including making certain remarks and phone calls, over her political views and expressions of support for Palestinian human rights.
“No one should be threatened or coerced into decisions about wearing certain articles of clothing associated with their political beliefs or cultural or religious identity,” said CAIR’s Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry. “This attire is a form of constitutionally-protected expression, and residents should not have to fear attacks or intimidation by neighbors or strangers. We urge Howard County Police to take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and well-being of this individual, and protect her from further escalation and harassment.”
Washington, D.C. based CAIR’s latest civil rights report documented 8,683 anti-Muslim bias complaints in 2025 – the highest number ever recorded by the organization since it began publishing civil rights reports in 1996.
BACKGROUNDER:
The Palestinian keffiyeh, a longstanding cultural symbol worn by people around the world, has increasingly become a target of hostility by those supporting Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and war crimes in the region.
CAIR offices nationwide have documented a significant increase in anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian incidents since October 2023, ranging from harassment and discrimination to threats and acts of violence.
“Every Maryland resident has the right to peacefully express their views and cultural identity without fear of being singled out in their own community,” added Chaudry. “Our neighborhoods should be places of safety and belonging. not places where individuals are made to feel unwelcome because of who they are or what they wear.”
CAIR Maryland is requesting the Howard County Police Department to publicly encourage the reporting of bias-related incidents. The organization is also urging county leaders to reaffirm their commitment to protecting the civil rights and constitutional freedoms of all Howard County residents.
CAIR is urging anyone who experiences a bias-related incident to document the encounter, preserve any available evidence, and report the matter to local authorities and CAIR’s Civil Rights Department online at cair.com/report.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, [email protected], 410-971-6062; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]