According to details of the incident, joint forces from the university police, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, and the Arizona Department of Public Safety conducted an arrest operation involving 69 people during a supportive student sit-in, as reported by American media. Among those arrested, four Muslim women—Fatima Jabardi, Noor Ouda, Noora Abdullah, and Salma Jabaiah—were forced to remove their hijabs during the arrest and remained without them throughout transportation and detention until their release the following day. A video documenting the moment one woman had her hijab removed sparked widespread condemnation from human rights organizations. Lawyers described the incident as a “public humiliation,” equating it to forcing a woman to undress in public. The lawsuit indicates that local police policies require “reasonable accommodations” for religious attire, stating that hijab removal should be limited to necessary security situations and only for a brief period. The women’s lawyers, led by attorney David Shami, are seeking judicial confirmation of constitutional rights violations, pointing out that the women suffered “psychological trauma and public humiliation” due to the incident. The case continues to stir controversy, with calls for a comprehensive review of police practices in handling detainees from religious minorities.
