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The New York City Police Department has been awarded $17.5 million (£14 million) in a class action lawsuit brought by two Muslim women who were forced to remove their hijabs when their photos were taken.
A 2018 lawsuit alleged that Jamila Clark and Arwa Aziz suffered violations of their religious freedom and privacy.
Lawyers say more than 3,600 people are eligible to receive payments under the agreement.
Police policy changed four years ago to allow hijabs. The city said the incident “led to positive reforms.”
However, the compensation agreement must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case.
According to court records, Clark cried and begged for her hijab to be put back on while police took photos of her.
“When I was forced to take off my hijab, I felt naked. I don't know if words can express how exposed and violated I felt,” Clark said in a statement Friday. Ta.
“I am so proud to have contributed to justice for thousands of New Yorkers today. It proves I was right.”
“I hope no New Yorker ever goes through what I went through again.”
Lawyers for the women argued that the police policy of forcing the removal of head coverings violated the women's privacy rights and religious freedom.
In a statement to the New York Times, the City Attorney's Office said the agreement “carefully balances the critical need for law enforcement to take arrest photographs with the Department's respect for deeply held religious beliefs.” .
“This resolution was in the best interest of all parties.”
The money will be distributed to thousands of plaintiffs arrested between March 2014 and August 2021. Lawyers say individuals could receive payments of about $7,000 to $13,000.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest Muslim advocacy group in the United States, praised the women, saying the change also affects people of other faiths who wear religious head coverings. .
Afaf Nasher, CAIR's New York Executive Director, said: “We are grateful to the Muslim women who bravely persevered in this litigation and inspired policy changes that will benefit many who require similar religious attire. I would like to express my thoughts.”
