A New bill introduced by Dearborn State Representative Alabas Farhat seeks to add protections for individuals wearing religious garments during arrest procedures such as the hijab.
The bill addresses the gap in current state law, which lacks a uniform policy on booking photographs and arrest processes for those wearing items such as headscarves or hijabs.
This move comes after a recent lawsuit filed against Kent County by a Muslim woman who was forced to remove her hijab. The proposed law would allow individuals to keep their religious garments unless they pose a risk to themselves or others.
Moreover, the bill mandates that all reasonable efforts be made to ensure that a law enforcement officer of the same sex conducts searches and booking photographs to respect the individual’s faith.
Any photograph taken in violation of this law would be destroyed and retaken according to the bill’s guidelines.
