Muslim Women Sue ASU Police Over Forced Hijab Removal During Protest Arrests

Four Muslim women arrested during a pro-Palestine encampment at Arizona State University in April 2024 have filed a lawsuit alleging that campus police and other authorities violated their constitutional rights by forcibly removing their hijabs and keeping them uncovered for over 24 hours while in custody. The women, who were charged with trespassing, claim the forced hijab removal caused lasting trauma, including mental anguish and humiliation, and emphasize they were never violent or disruptive. Their attorney argued the incident was not about trespassing but about suppressing speech and highlighted the profound violation of privacy and First Amendment rights involved in compelling women to remove religious head coverings in public, especially in front of unrelated men. The lawsuit names multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and ASU police, and points to a sheriff's policy authorizing hijab removal during arrests, a practice challenged as unconstitutional. Similar protests and arrests have led to lawsuits in other states, such as Colorado, where demonstrators also allege unlawful arrests aimed at silencing pro-Palestinian speech. These cases underscore ongoing tensions surrounding free speech, religious rights, and policing tactics at university protests related to the Israel-Gaza conflict.