Judge dismisses lawsuit over woman’s hijab

TULSA, Okla. (AP) – A judge in Oklahoma has dismissed a civil rights lawsuit involving a Muslim woman who alleges she was forced to remove her hijab in public while attempting to enter the Tulsa County Courthouse.

U.S. District Judge Claire Eagan on Tuesday dismissed claims that the Tulsa County Sheriff’s Office and four deputies violated the First Amendment and the Oklahoma Religious Freedom Act.

Suha Elqutt says she was forced to remove her hijab in April in the presence of male deputies and that the sheriff’s office neglected to accommodate her requests to be searched by female deputies in a private space.

The judge dismissed the suit without prejudice, leaving Elquitt with a chance to refile the lawsuit. Elqutt’s attorney says they are exploring options for an appeal.