Muslim woman wins $85,000 lawsuit after police forcibly remove her hijab in detention

The city of Long Beach, California, will pay $85,000 to settle a 2016 lawsuit filed by a Muslim woman after a Police officer forcibly removed her hijab when she was in police custody.  

According to reports, the incident started when Kirsty Powell and her husband were pulled over by police for driving a "low rider" car. Powell was the passenger, but was arrested after police found a warrant under her name for a shoplifting incident.

Powell's husband requested a female officer handle the arrest, according to the suit, but the arresting officers denied the request and told Powell she had to remove her hijab. Powell spent the night in prison without her headscarf. It was returned when her husband posted her bond.

The lawsuit states Powell was "forced to appear in a publicly available booking photo without her religious headwear." Adding," As a result of the foregoing deprivations of the free exercise of her religion, Kirsty Powell suffered severe discomfort, humiliation, and emotional distress."

Powell filed the lawsuit in April 2016, alleging the police department had violated her First Amendment rights. "She cried throughout the ordeal and experienced humiliation when both her religious beliefs and personal integrity were violated," the lawsuit said.

The Long Beach Police Department changed its policy in November 2016 to allow an arrested person to wear religious headgear unless there is a safety concern. The Council on American-Islamic Relations announced the settlement in a press release praising Powell.