Muslim woman arrested for wearing a hijab in Georgia courthouse





Lisa Valentine was jailed on the 16th of this month in Douglasville, Georgia for contempt of court. She was told that she could not enter a courthouse while wearing her hijab (headscarf). When she refused to remove it, she was arrested. Valentine, a Muslim woman, said that she “felt stripped of [her] civil, [her] human rights.” According to the ACLU, Muslim women and girls have faced a great number of violations of their rights related to the wearing of their hijab.

Although I am an atheist, I have a great deal of respect for the founding principles of the United States, one of which is “freedom of religion.” I have to say that, although I am anti-religion, I find this to be a disgusting violation of the Constitution.

I am curious to know if these same law enforcers have ever banned or arrested anyone for wearing a crucifix in that same courthouse. Further, I wonder if that courthouse uses a Bible to swear in people. Regardless, it seems obvious that this woman’s rights were violated.

Time and again we see, in this country, that people in positions of power completely disregard the fundamental rights of citizens when and if it suits them. They take it upon themselves to impose their personal beliefs on a system that is set up, supposedly, to preclude such bias. It is exactly this type of government supported and imposed discrimination that helps to foster hatred and intolerance in the populace.

Although I do not agree with or support Valentine’s religious beliefs or customs, it is not for me or anyone to decide for her how she lives her life or how she expresses herself… as long as what she does causes no injury to anyone. Moreover, regardless of what I think of her religious choice, it is her right to embrace her religion just as it is my right not to embrace any religion at all. Therefore, although I may not respect her religion or her choice, I will respect her right to choose it.