The ACLU of Georgia Expresses Grave Concern at Reports of Denial of Access to Court in Douglasville to Muslim Women Wearing Headscarves

Calls for modification of the current policy to allow access to court for followers of all religious faiths 

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Azadeh Shahshahani, 404-523-6201, 919-389-5329, ashahshahani@acluga.org

Atlanta – The ACLU of Georgia today expressed serious concern about troubling reports of incidents at the Douglasville Municipal Court where Muslim women have been faced with the choice of removing their headscarves or the denial of access to court.  The ACLU of Georgia called on decision makers to seriously consider revision of the current policy in order to allow Muslim women and followers of other faiths who wear religious headgear access to court.

In the most recent incident, Lisa Valentine, also known by her Islamic name, Miedah, was arrested after Judge Keith Rollins of the Douglasville Municipal Court found her in contempt of court for refusing to remove her headscarf.  Valentine and other Muslim women have reportedly been refused access to the Douglasville Municipal Court, even after they have expressly conveyed to the court officials that the wearing of the headscarf is an expression of their faith. 

“Muslim women, like all people in the United States, should have the right to express their religious beliefs free from discrimination or the jeopardizing of other important rights,” said Azadeh Shahshahani, National Security/Immigrants’ Rights Project Director for the ACLU of Georgia.  “We hope that authorities in Douglasville seriously consider the revision of the current policy in order to ensure that all residents regardless of their faith are able to access the courts.”

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