Phoenix, Arizona – Video footage has emerged showing a campus police officer at Arizona State University forcefully removing a protester’s hijab during an arrest. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from various advocacy groups and legal representatives.
The blurred video, captured by Mass Liberation AZ and shared by attorney Zayed Al-Sayyed, depicts several ASU Police Department officers surrounding a woman with her hands restrained behind her back as the officer removes her hijab. Onlookers can be heard protesting, criticizing the violation of the woman’s privacy and demanding the return of her hijab.
According to Al-Sayyed, who represents the women involved, the arrests took place over the weekend, with three of the women being students at the university and all four residing in the Phoenix area. The women now face criminal trespass charges, with Al-Sayyed emphasizing that they pleaded to keep their hijabs on for religious reasons. However, they were allegedly informed that the hijabs had to be removed for safety purposes.
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) has condemned the actions of the university police, characterizing it as a violation of the women’s religious freedoms. The organization has called for a thorough investigation into the incident and similar occurrences.
In response to the growing backlash, the university stated that the matter is currently under review. Efforts to obtain a comment from the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office have also been made, suggesting that legal ramifications may follow the public outcry over the incident.
The situation underscores the importance of respecting individuals’ religious beliefs and practices, particularly in sensitive and potentially volatile encounters like arrests and protests. Advocates for social justice and civil liberties continue to monitor the developments surrounding the incident at Arizona State University, advocating for justice and reformation within law enforcement practices.