Suffolk Exec Reviews Police Policy After Muslim Woman Claims Hijab Was Forcibly Taken

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk Executive Ed Romaine vowed to conduct a review of policies and procedures following the filing of a lawsuit against the county alleging the improper removal of a Muslim woman's hijab during a police investigation.

The lawsuit alleges Suffolk police forcibly removed the woman’s hijab during a body search and did not give it back until after she was released, News 12 first reported.

It was been filed by two groups on the behalf of Marowa Fahmy of East Setauket, saying she was arrested by police in 2022 after a false tip, according to the report.

She is seeking damages for loss of rights and emotional distress, the outlet reported.

Suffolk police have declined to comment on the lawsuit.

In a statement, Romaine, who took office weeks ago, noted that the allegation stems from an incident that took place before his administration.

"While officer safety is a critical concern in any police-citizen encounter, my administration does not condone any policy which would compromise a person’s religious beliefs or customs," he said.

"Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I will immediately review our policies and procedures with the Suffolk County Police Department," he said.

Police Benevolent Association President Lou Civello, said, "We remain committed to respecting the religious rights and freedoms of all people. These rights must however be balanced with officer safety concerns. Police procedures should be sensitive to religious freedoms without putting officers in undue harm. We support the County Executive's review of [Suffolk County Police Department] procedures to conform to these goals."