Muslim Woman Goes to Jail Cause She Didn't Take Headscarf Off

[Greenday]

http://news.aol.com/article/muslim-w...d-scarf/280144

I have multiple issues with this:

#1: The First Amendment: Freedom of Religion
#2: Look at the responses. Some of the most racist pricks ever.

What the hell is going wrong with society when our COURT SYSTEM is visibly acting prejudiced against someone for their religion? One of THE most fundamental rights and the legal system is BLATANTLY ignoring it. And the responses of the majority of the posters are so racist. I mean, I know it's Georgia, one of the most southern states in the US, but damn, you'd think the court system would be at least kind of normal. Society as a whole down there is completely messed up.

[Flyndaran]

The proper response in this situation is to have had a female officer take the "believer" into another room so that the headgear could be searched for contraband. She could then be allowed to wear it inside the rest of the building.

Turning this whole thing into a humans right issue (HAH) was never needed.

[AdminAssistant]

I mean, I know it's Georgia, one of the most southern states in the US, but damn, you'd think the court system would be at least kind of normal. Society as a whole down there is completely messed up.

Can we get over this...MYTH that racism only happens in the South? Georgia, or any other Southern state for that matter, is no more prone to racism than any other place in the US these days. Actually, I saw much more racism/racist behavior in Kansas City than I ever saw in the South.

The Civil War and Reconstruction was 150 years ago. The Little Rock Nine was 50 years ago. I'm sorry, I know this is OT, but I am really tired of the stereotype of the racist South.

[Amethyst Hunter]

The proper response in this situation is to have had a female officer take the "believer" into another room so that the headgear could be searched for contraband. She could then be allowed to wear it inside the rest of the building.

I agree.

Can we get over this...MYTH that racism only happens in the South?

Also agreed. I live in the "North", and I have been SHOCKED by the number of racist fucks I've come across up here. (My own brother speaks of Hispanics in, shall we say, less than glowing terms) The South just has bad publicity, therefore we hear more about that than what goes on in the northern areas.

[anriana]

"officials stopped her at the metal detector and told her she would not be allowed in the courtroom with the head scarf."

"the same judge removed a woman and her 14-year-old daughter from the courtroom last week because they were wearing Muslim head scarves."


The article doesn't make it sound like she needed to remove her hijab only for security purposes, it makes it sound like the judge did not want anyone wearing hijab in his/her court.

I think hijab is stupid and find the concept offensive, but I don't understand how this isn't a violation of the First Amendment.

[Greenday]

Ok, ok, I know not all southerners are racist. I have some friends from the South who are not racist at all. But in all seriousness, there is a decent amount more inherent racism in the South than in the North.

[blas87]

I've never been to the South, however, there are so many ignorant, most likely inbred, Confederate flag donning "yee haw git r done", "The South will rise again!" "I hate niggers spics and Jews!" Toby Keith worshipping redneck lunatics up here in northwest Wisconsin of all places that it doesn't surprise me that people like that can live anywhere.

[daleduke17]

This isn't a human rights issue. If the court rule is "no head gear" and it is being applied equally, there is no racism or other bullshit to be said. She knew the rules of the court and chose not to abide by them.

Too bad, so sad.

[Greenday]

This isn't a human rights issue. If the court rule is "no head gear" and it is being applied equally, there is no racism or other bullshit to be said. She knew the rules of the court and chose not to abide by them.

So the local court's laws take precedence over the Constitution? Yea, I don't think so.

[Pedersen]

So the local court's laws take precedence over the Constitution? Yea, I don't think so.

You're absolutely right, Greenday. In fact, I'll prove how right you are by carrying a sidearm in a visible holster the next time I visit the courthouse. And, since I'm only exercising my second amendment right to bear arms, this will be allowed, right?

[daleduke17]

You're absolutely right, Greenday. In fact, I'll prove how right you are by carrying a sidearm in a visible holster the next time I visit the courthouse. And, since I'm only exercising my second amendment right to bear arms, this will be allowed, right?

That's if you could even get to the door of the courthouse without being questioned by officers and courthouse staff.

[Greenday]

Bringing a gun into the courthouse is much different from wearing a headdress. There is NOTHING threatening or dangerous about a headdress.

[Pedersen]

Bringing a gun into the courthouse is much different from wearing a headdress. There is NOTHING threatening or dangerous about a headdress.

And yet, both are protected by the US Constitution. Carrying a gun openly (with the right permits) is perfectly legal. I can carry it around, and invoke the Constitution against anybody who wishes to deny my right to do so.

However, carrying one into the courthouse will result in my experiencing difficulties, to say the least. However, you wish to use threat level to say that one behavior should be permitted to be (unconstitutionally) denied, while another should not. Let's try something else then.

Walk into court, and wear a t-shirt that says "Judge So-and-so is an asshole." Non-threatening, freedom of speech. You'll get a contempt of court charge (which is what this woman got).

Oh, wait, "asshole" is too inflammatory. Change it to "In my opinion, Judge So-and-so is a jerk." "I don't like this judge, and would rather not look at him." Make any statement that could be considered inflammatory by the judge, and then cry freedom of speech. You'll still get hit with contempt of court, either due to the statement itself, or your refusal to change into a different shirt.

These are the same circumstances. The judge ordered the woman to do something. She refused. She was cited for contempt of court.

Was the judge racist? Maybe. Depends on whether or not he said "No hijabs in the courtroom" or "No headwear of any kind in the courtroom." Since the article said that the judge's rule is "No headwear of any kind in the courtroom", it's not racist for him to enforce the rule that he set down.

I don't necessarily agree with the judge. He seems like rather a jerk, actually. But crying racism, in this case, is over the top I think. Mainly because all we have evidence for is him applying the rules equally.

[Lace Neil Singer]

What about if Pedersen decided to walk into court wearing a giant novelty hat? Would that be the same?

Rules are the same for everyone; if you don't choose to keep them, then you can take the consequences. What if she'd been carrying a gun in her headscarf? Who would be blamed for that? Tho I have to agree with the poster who suggested that she be taken aside by a female court attendant and searched.

Also, in the article it said she was only cuffed after she swore at the officer.

[Greenday]

A headscarf is pretty form-fitting. It's not a loose piece of clothing like a t-shirt or a baggy pair of jeans. If you are hiding a gun in it, it will be quite noticeable that you are concealing something.