(WASHINGTON, D.C., 7/26/23) – Following intervention by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a decision by Kentucky’s Fayette County Detention Center to establish policies accommodating religious attire after a Muslim doctor detained over a minor issue was refused the right to wear her Islamic head scarf, or hijab.
The detention center contacted CAIR yesterday to confirm its plan to update its policies. The center also said in a statement: “Current policy does not address religious head coverings at time of booking and is in need of revision to include provisions allowing the wearing of religious head covering at the time someone is taken into custody.”
SEE: Detention center director says new policy is needed for booking people wearing a hijab
https://ca.movies.yahoo.com/detention-center-director-says-policy-214758982.html
Video: Kentucky Detention Center to Change Hijab Policy Following Intervention by CAIR
“While we remain deeply troubled by the mistreatment this Muslim woman experienced, we applaud the decision to protect detainee religious rights going forward,” said Roula Allouch, the doctor’s attorney and former CAIR national board chair.
“We welcome the Fayette County Detention Center’s pledge to establish a religious accommodation policy to ensure that people of faith who wear religious clothing, including hijabs, can do so in that facility,” said CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell. “We urge other facilities nationwide to ensure their policies similarly protect the constitutionally-guaranteed rights of all detainees.”
Mitchell noted that CAIR previously called on that facility to launch a transparent investigation of the denial of religious rights.
SEE: CAIR Calls on University of Kentucky Police, Div. of Community Corrections to Probe Detention of Muslim Woman, Forced Removal of Hijab
In a letter sent to the head of the detention center, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said in part:
“We respectfully request that your agencies investigate this reported incident involving [the detained Muslim woman] and establish clear policies permitting people of faith to keep their hijabs and other religiously required hair coverings on while in detention.”
He noted that CAIR offers both a “Law Enforcement Official’s Guide to The Muslim Community” and “A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices” designed to prevent such incidents from occurring.
Mitchell added that CAIR has intervened in a number of such cases to defend the religious rights of detainees.
SEE: CAIR: Missouri Jail to Allow Hijab for Muslim Women
SEE: South Carolina jail changes religious head coverings policy after incident
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: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]