Finland: Supreme Court Acquits Two Officers Over Forcible Removal of Hijabs from Asylum Seekers
After nine years of litigation, Finland’s Supreme Court ruled that the police did not break the law when removing headscarves from two Muslim asylum seekers — a verdict condemned by American Islamic organisations.
Finland’s Supreme Court has ruled to acquit two police officers of forcibly removing the hijabs of two Muslim asylum seekers and using physical force against them, bringing to a close a case that had run through the Finnish judicial system for nine years.
In its ruling, the court concluded that the removal of the women’s headscarves took place in the context of a routine security procedure carried out by police, and did not constitute a legal violation warranting the conviction of either officer.
The verdict prompted critical reactions from Islamic organisations. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) condemned the ruling, expressing solidarity with Finland’s Muslim community and stating that the forcible removal of a hijab infringes on freedom of religion.
No further details are yet available about the identities of the two officers or any legal steps the two women may pursue following the judgment.
Sources
- فنلندا: المحكمة العليا تبرئ ضابطان من تهمة نزع الحجاب قسراً واستخدام القوة. — Deutsche Welle — Arabic
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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