ACLU: Let jailed Muslim women wear scarves

[rug]

NEW ORLEANS | The American Civil Liberties Union has asked the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office to change a policy that bars Muslim women arrestees from wearing the religious head-covering called a hijab.

Marjorie Esman, executive director of the ACLU of Louisiana, said a woman arrested for traffic violations last year asked to wear her hijab in public and when men were present, but was told the sheriff’s office said no.

“Louisiana law and the U.S. Constitution require governments to accommodate religious beliefs unless there is a compelling interest, which simply does not exist in this case,” Esman said.

The ACLU has asked Sheriff Michael Neustrom to make the change within 14 days. The sheriff’s spokesman, Lt. Craig Stansbury, said the agency just received the letter and did not have an immediate comment.

http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20110611/NEWS/110619946/1291/API?Title=ACLU-Let-jailed-Muslim-women-wear-scarves-

[LAGC]

1. Most prisons already allow for ceremonial oils and pendants on religious grounds.

So I don't see why head-scarves shouldn't be allowed.

Of course, full-body burqas might be too much, as the prisons can make a case that they pose a legitimate security concern...

Edit to Add: Oops, I noticed this was a county jail, not a long-term state prison. Jails are notorious for not offering nearly as many accomodations as prisons do, this goes for everything, not just religious items... I guess it just boils down to how much of an inconvenience it would be for the jail to find a trust-worthy third-party to ship them in, but of course there's no reason they couldn't just let them keep it on if they were arrested wearing one.