Why the Immigration Deal Flopped

NJ, APR 20 - The trial involving Rehana Khan, a Muslim girl of Pakistani-descent who had her headscarf (hijab) ripped off after she and several others were arrested for civil disobedience while protesting at a rally for immigrant rights last year has finally been scheduled next week.

Rehana (center) in hijab

A group of five young people - white, Latino, Muslim - are facing up to four years in jail for a protest against the racist vigilante group the Minutemen. Two Illinois state attorneys have reportedly refused to discuss a plea without jail time. Their case goes to trial on April 25th.

Illinois resident Rehana, while being led to a police squad car, reportedly informed an officer that the way in which she was being handled was causing extreme pain - actions from which she obtained bruises and scars - and requested that the officer ease her grip. The officer responded by stating: �No, that�s what you get,� and then remarked, �Take that off� and violently pulled off her hijab, reports CAIR.

Islam is the fastest growing religion in the USA. Since 9/11 there have been more converts to Islam than ever.

At the police station, Ms. Khan was made to take off her hijab again and was searched by a female and male officer without her hijab on. After the search, the female officer tried to give the hijab back to her but the male officer stopped her, stating something along the lines of there not being anybody at the station to look at her and indicated that the practice of wearing the hijab was a �fashion statement.� Ms. Khan was then kept in lock up without being permitted to wear her hijab.

CAIR-Chicago will be meeting with representatives of the village of Arlington Heights to discuss the police misconduct matter in upcoming days. Illinois' immigrant population numbers around 1.5 million.

The trial to determine the fate of Ms. Khan, the other protesters, and the rights of protesters engaging in civil disobedience in the future is scheduled on Tuesday April 25, says CAIR-Chicago.

(DesPardes News)

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