Media contacts:
Asian Law Caucus, media@asianlawcaucus.org
CAIR-LA, eelkadi@cair.com
CAIR-LA, Asian Law Caucus Secure Preliminary Injunction in Lawsuit Against County of Orange, OC Sheriff Don Barnes, and OC Sheriff’s Department Deputies Over Forced Removal of Two Women’s Hijabs
LOS ANGELES – The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Asian Law Caucus (ALC) today announced that the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has granted a preliminary injunction in their lawsuit against the County of Orange, Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, in his official capacity, and individual deputies of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD). The ruling provides immediate protection for two Muslim women whose hijabs were forcibly removed while in custody following their arrests at a peaceful, student-led demonstration at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) on May 15, 2024.
The lawsuit alleges that OCSD violated the plaintiffs’ religious freedom by forcing them to remove their hijabs for booking photographs and by maintaining images of them without their headscarves in a manner accessible to men.
In its order, the court found that plaintiffs offered sufficient evidence that they experienced a substantial burden to their religious beliefs under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and would continue to suffer irreparable harm unless an injunction was granted.
The court’s preliminary injunction requires the defendants to:
- Cease maintaining images of the plaintiffs without their hijabs in a manner accessible to men.
- Refrain from releasing or disseminating these images to the public.
- Redact the plaintiffs’ hair, neck, and ears in any maintained images.
- Restrict access to the original, unredacted images so that they are viewable only by necessary members of the litigation teams.
- Report to the court within seven days detailing the steps taken to comply with the injunction.
In a statement, ALC Litigation Staff Attorney Megan Vees, Esq., said:
“Religious rights are protected by the law—they don’t disappear while you’re in law enforcement custody or after you’re released. Our clients are bravely challenging the Sheriff’s Department’s forced removal of their hijabs because the religious clothing is an inseparable part of their identity and dignity. Hijab-wearing Muslim women experience a continued violation of their religious beliefs when men outside their immediate family can view pictures of them without their head coverings. This harm is irreparable and we are encouraged that today’s decision recognizes this injustice.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Dina Chehata, Esq., said:
“The Court’s ruling affirms something deeply human: that a woman’s dignity, her faith, and her bodily autonomy do not disappear the moment she is detained. Our clients were forced to remove their hijabs and then left to live with the fear that images of their uncovered selves could be viewed, accessed, and circulated in a way that is deeply violating. That harm is not abstract; it is intimate and ongoing. The Court saw that. We welcome this victory and remain confident that we will ultimately prevail on the merits and secure justice for our brave clients.”
In a statement, CAIR-LA Civil Rights Staff Attorney Camilah Hamideh, Esq., said:
“Courts only grant preliminary injunctions when plaintiffs show that they’re likely to succeed on the merits of their claim and likely to suffer from irreparable harm, which makes them difficult to secure. The Court’s order granting our clients’ motion for preliminary injunction sends a powerful message about the strength of our clients’ case and the importance of protecting the dignity and religious freedom of individuals during detention and after release.”
About the organizations
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
Asian Law Caucus (ALC) was founded in 1972 as the nation's first legal and civil rights organization focusing on the needs of low-income, immigrant and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Recognizing that social, economic, political, and racial inequalities continue to exist in the United States, ALC is committed to the pursuit of equality and justice for all sectors of our society.