08/06/2026
Two Muslim Women File Federal Lawsuit Against Orange County Sheriff’s Department Over Hijab Removal
Salma Nasoordeen and Shenai Aini have brought a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The plaintiffs claim that their religious freedoms were infringed when deputies required them to take off their hijabs for booking photographs following their arrest at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at UC Irvine in 2024. They further allege that the images showing them without head coverings were entered into a publicly accessible database.
The Sheriff’s Department has rejected the claims, asserting that any removal of hijabs occurred in private settings with only female deputies present and was conducted in line with standard arrest and booking protocols.
A federal judge has granted a preliminary injunction that bars the further release or viewing of the women’s uncovered booking photos for the duration of the legal proceedings.
The suit is seeking changes to department policies, mandatory religious sensitivity training for staff, and monetary compensation.