(WXYZ) - A Wayne County judge who demanded that a Muslim woman remove her religious headscarf (hijab) in court is the target of a lawsuit.
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The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) is scheduled to hold a news conference Wednesday to announce the filing of a federal lawsuit against Wayne County Circuit Judge William Callahan. The Muslim plaintiff says she felt so intimidated by the judge’s repeated demand that she eventually removed her headscarf.
“The judge’s actions contradict both the constitutional right to freedom of religion and President Obama's recent statement in support of the right to wear hijab,” said CAIR-MI Attorney Melanie Elturk. “This judge targeted a Muslim woman’s religious attire, but he could just as easily have demanded the removal of a Sikh turban, Jewish yarmulke or a Catholic nun’s habit.”
Judge Callahan's demand came one month after the Michigan Supreme Court voted to give judges full discretion over courtroom attire.
Callahan's assistant, Susan Salas, says he is "sensitive to religious practices" and the woman removed her headpiece willingly, without saying it had religious significance.
