American Civil Liberties Union

When Souhair Khatib went to the Orange County Superior Court in Southern California in 2006, she had no idea that she was in for a humiliating and traumatic violation of her most closely held religious beliefs. Khatib came to court to seek an extension of her deadline for completing 30 days of community service relating to a misdemeanor. When she got there, an unexpected nightmare began — Khatib, who is a U.S. citizen, was taken into custody when her parole was revoked, forced to remove the hijab (headscarf) she wears as part of her Muslim religious faith, and to remain without it while in the holding facility and when appearing in open court. The experience of being stripped of her hijab was terrifying and violating.