(CANTON, MI, 10/29/2021) – The Michigan chapter of Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a local chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today filed a lawsuit in the Federal Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the city of Ferndale for its cross-gender search and forcible removal of a Muslim woman’s Islamic head scarf (hijab) following her arrest in June 2021. The lawsuit comes after attempts to reach out to the city of Ferndale by CAIR-MI were ignored.
Helana Bowe, an African-American Muslim woman was sitting at a traffic light on Eight Mile Road in the city of Detroit on June 21, 2021, when she was stopped by a city of Ferndale Police cruiser for allegedly having an expired license plate tag.
During the traffic stop, Bowe advised Ferndale police officer Stephen Wroe that she had a taser in her possession after being mugged earlier in the year and was taken into custody and transported to the city of Ferndale Police Department. Once she was at the police department, Bowe was allegedly subjected to a cross-gender search by a male officer while a female police sergeant looked on, and then was forced to remove her hijab for a booking photograph in front of a male officer in violation of her sincerely-held religious beliefs.
CAIR-MI had previously held a press conference announcing its notice of intent to file a suit against the city of Ferndale, and urging the city of Ferndale to reach out to CAIR-MI to discuss the alleged civil rights violations that Bowe suffered following her arrest.
SEE: CAIR Michigan Says Ferndale Police Department Violated African American Muslim’s Civil Rights
At the time of the press conference, the city of Ferndale and Ferndale Police Chief Dennis Emmi released a statement acknowledging the need for training and insisted they would reach out to CAIR-MI to discuss Ms. Bowe’s case further. However, despite Ferndale’s assertions, and CAIR-MI’s efforts to reach out and follow up with the city, there has been no communication from Ferndale.
Given the city’s lack of interest in discussing the alleged violations of Ms. Bowe’s religious rights, CAIR-MI was forced to bring litigation on behalf of Bowe to not only protect her rights but also in order to protect the religious rights of all persons being held in custody by the city of Ferndale Police Department.
“By failing to formally respond to our concerns raised on behalf of our client’s civil rights having been violated, we were left with no other option but to sue the Ferndale Police,” said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. “Though the city touts itself as being a municipality of diversity and inclusion, it appears that its police department is not serious about this claim when it comes to Muslims.”
“The Ferndale Police Department’s entire conduct on June 21, 2021, was problematic, starting with its dragnetting of the city of Detroit side of Eight Mile road looking to engage in traffic stops of individuals who have no connection with the city of Ferndale.” Said CAIR-MI staff attorney Amy V. Doukoure. “The Ferndale Police’s problematic conduct only escalated when officers allegedly violated Ms. Bowe’s constitutionally protected religious rights by subjecting her to a cross-gender search unnecessarily and forcibly removing her hijab for a booking photograph. It is surprising that a city that prides itself on its vast diversity and claims to strive for inclusivity finds itself silent on its own insensitive treatment of a religious minority in their care and custody.”
Washington, D.C.,-based CAIR also offers an educational toolkit, called “A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” to help correctional officers and administrators gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.
SEE: A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
CAIR offers a publication designed to assist law enforcement officials in forming and implementing policies to create a culturally-aware environment and cooperative relationship between American Muslims and law enforcement agencies.
SEE: Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to The Muslim Community
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, 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: CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid, dwalid@cair.com, 248-842-1418; CAIR-MI Staff Attorney Amy Doukoure, adoukore@cair.com, 586-943-8823; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com