Two Muslim women have filed a federal lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff's Department after claiming their hijabs were forcibly removed during their arrest following a pro-Palestinian protest at UC Irvine. The women argue this act violated their religious beliefs and their rights under state and federal law. Civil rights attorneys assert that hijabs represent deeply held religious beliefs, and laws protect individuals' rights to maintain their faith even when arrested. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has denied the allegations, stating it respects lawful protests.
"This stripped them of something far more sacred than fabric. For Muslim women who cover their bodies and hair, the hijab is an act of worship. It is a sign of their submission to God. It is a shield of dignity. And it is a sincerely held religious belief that is not optional or decorative."
"It is not for the state to decide when it (a hijab) can be removed. Our laws are clear, people do not shed their religious rights when they are arrested. They don't become less worthy of respect because they dissent. And they are not required to surrender their faith at the jailhouse doors."
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