On Wednesday, Layla Soliz, an observant Muslim woman, filed a lawsuit against Knox County, Tennessee, the Sheriff of Knox County, and a Sergeant, following an incident in May where she was compelled to remove her hijab for a booking photo. Soliz had been arrested for criminal trespassing during a pro-Palestine demonstration at the University of Tennessee. She claims that the Knox County Sheriff’s Office demanded the removal of her hijab without a compelling reason and proceeded to publish the photo on their public website.
Soliz argues that this incident violated federal statutes such as the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and 42 U.S.C § 2000cc, in addition to Tennessee’s Preservation of Religious Freedom Act. She notes that the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division’s own policies emphasize the respect of religious head coverings barring clear security threats. While policies require photographs both with and without the head covering, only the image with the head covering is authorized for public release.
Soliz is seeking $250,000 in damages for the emotional distress the incident caused and is pushing for the removal of the photo from all databases. She is also advocating for policy adjustments to avert future occurrences of similar nature. This case adds to a growing list of legal actions by Muslim women challenging the forced removal of head coverings in police settings. Earlier, Sophia Johnston, another Tennessee resident, secured a $100,000 settlement following a Rutherford County incident, prompting reforms in booking procedures to respect religious practices.
The lawsuit underscores significant ongoing tensions balancing religious freedoms and law enforcement practices. As these cases continue to arise, they spotlight the need for consistent policies that respect religious beliefs while safeguarding institutional processes.
For more details on this lawsuit against Knox County, see the original report on JURIST.