ACLU attorney Hector Villagra said jail officials ordered Khatib's hijab removed because they said it could be used to choke someone. But Villagra said a woman in the holding cell with Khatib was wearing fishnet stockings that were not confiscated and could have also been used as a weapon.
Villagra said that men in a holding cell with Amro Khatib did not have their shoelaces removed.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, September 20, 2007 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 73 words Type of Material: Correction
Muslim: An article in some editions of the Sept. 5 California section about a Muslim woman's lawsuit against the Orange County Sheriff's Department over the right to wear a head scarf said the Koran mandated that women cover their heads in public. Though many Islamic communities believe the Koran prescribes that concealing garments such as head scarves be worn by women in public, not all Muslims interpret the text as mandating the practice.
Sheriff's spokesman Damon Micalizzi said the department's practice is to remove articles of clothing from inmates for safety and security reasons. But Micalizzi said jail personnel were sensitive to inmates' religious beliefs. He declined to comment on the lawsuit.
State Department of Corrections spokeswoman Terry Thornton said the agency allows Muslim female inmates to wear the hijab, but they must be removed during searches. According to Khatib's lawsuit, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons follows the same policy.
Villagra said it would have been appropriate for Orange County Jail officials to search Khatib's hijab as long as she was allowed to wear it while locked up. After being released from jail, the couple were given until January 2007 to complete their community service and complied.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and requests that Orange County Jail officials allow the use of religious head coverings.
hgreza@latimes.com
