NYC Settles $17.5M Lawsuit Over Forced Removal of Religious Head Coverings

New York City has agreed to pay $17.5 million to settle a lawsuit filed by two Muslim women who were forced to remove their head coverings for mug shots after being arrested, with the lawsuit claiming they felt shamed and exposed. The settlement, which requires approval by a federal judge, resulted in a change in the police department's policy to allow arrested individuals to keep their head coverings on for mug shots with limited exceptions. The financial settlement will be shared by approximately 4,100 eligible class members, with a guaranteed minimum payment of $7,824 for each eligible person.