ECBAWM and the Council on American-Islamic Relations New York (CAIR-NY) announced a settlement securing $225,000 in damages and policy reform in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed in 2024 against the County of Suffolk. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the County of Suffolk over the treatment of Marowa Fahmy, a practicing Muslim woman who was forced by Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers to remove her hijab, was strip-searched in front of a male officer, and was denied repeated pleas to remain covered during and after her arrest.

After the suit was filed, Suffolk County changed its policy on religious head coverings, explicitly stating that religious garments that do not substantially cover an individual’s face may be worn during the taking of any photographs. The new policy also explicitly names certain types of religious head coverings such as “yarmulkes, hijabs, or turbans” and instructs officers to permit individuals to wear their religious head coverings while in custody, absent unusual circumstances.
In addition to monetary damages, the settlement includes the Suffolk County Police Department’s commitment to train its officers on its religious head covering policies.

“What happened to me was humiliating and deeply traumatic. Being forced to remove my hijab and remain exposed for hours in front of male officers violated everything I believe in,” said plaintiff Marowa Fahmy. “I brought this case so no one else has to go through what I did. I’m grateful to my legal team for securing a change to the Suffolk County Police Department’s policy, so that others can be treated with the dignity and respect every human being deserves.”

“The forced removal of a person’s religious head covering in front of male officers is profoundly degrading,” said O. Andrew F. Wilson, Partner at ECBAWM, who, together with Sana Mayat, is counsel for Ms. Fahmy. “Ms. Fahmy’s courage to bring this case not only secured justice for herself but led to real policy change. This settlement sends a clear message that Suffolk County’s previous practices were unconstitutional and out of step with national norms.”

“This settlement reaffirms that police must respect the hijab, and the women that wear them. What Ms. Fahmy went through should never happen again. County by county, we are steadily building policy change in law enforcement through cases like this one. We will continue to fight on behalf of our community members until everyone in the State is protected,” said Burhan Carroll, CAIR-NY Staff Attorney.

Press:
“N.Y. County Settles With Woman Who Says the Police Removed Her Hijab,” NYTimes
News 12 Coverage
“L.I. woman secures $225K settlement, Suffolk policy reform after forced hijab removal,” NY Daily News
“Settlement in case of East Setauket woman who sued after Suffolk police made her remove hijab, leading to policy change,” Newsday