News summary from Gaza and pro-Palestine protests at US universities on this April 30, 2024
Video shows an Arizona State University police officer removing a protester’s hijab during an arrest
This screenshot shows a campus police officer removing a hijab from the head of a female protester at Arizona State University, Phoenix, Arizona. (Credit: Mass Liberation AZ)
Video taken over the weekend at Arizona State University shows a campus police officer removing a hijab from a protester’s head during an arrest.
The blurred video, obtained by Mass Liberation AZ and provided to CNN by Zaid Al-Sayed, an attorney representing the women, shows several officers from the ASU Police Department surrounding a woman, who has her hands behind her back, while an officer Removes her hijab.
People nearby can be heard shouting: “You’re violating their privacy” and “Give it back to me.”
The officers then make the woman wear a hoodie and a bystander yells: “So you can wear a hoodie but not a hijab?” At one point, an officer shoves the woman out of sight of people recording the video, while a man yells, “Let her go!”
A lawyer representing her and three other women said this happened to them too, and are demanding accountability.
Al-Sayyid, who said the arrests occurred early Saturday, did not identify the women, but said three of them are university students and all four are Phoenix area residents. He has been charged with criminal offenses for trespassing.
While detained, al-Sayyid said, the women explained the meaning of the hijab and “begged” to keep it on, but he said they were told they had to take it off for security reasons.
“They never expected that an officer … who they have sworn to protect and serve would violate their most basic right protected under the Constitution of the United States, which is the right to practice their religion . That’s why they are injured,” Al-Sayed said.
Al-Sayed said the women were not given their hijabs back after being detained and taken to jail by bus.
About 15 hours later, when she was finally allowed to meet her customers, Al-Sayyid said she was able to bring them new hijabs.
The Arizona chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-AZ) condemned the university police for the recorded incident and similar incidents and called for a full investigation.
“This act represents a gross violation of the religious freedom of peaceful protesters. “This is extremely tragic for the women affected and ASU Police should thoroughly investigate this matter,” Aza Abuseef, executive director of CAIR-AZ, said in an email to CNN.
In a statement to CNN, the university said: “This matter remains under review.” CNN has contacted the Maricopa County Prosecutor’s Office for comment.
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