Muslim Woman Jailed Over Headscarf

(Douglasville, Georgia) A 40-year-old Muslim woman, Lisa Valentine (aka Miedah), is claiming religious discrimination after bailiffs at the Douglasville Municipal Court building told her she would have to remove her scarf.

"It bothers me because it's from the court that's supposed to be protecting people's rights and granting people's rights and being fair," said Valentine. [...]

Valentine admits she used vulgar language when told of the policy. She claims the bailiffs handcuffed her and took her to Judge Keith Rollins.

Valentine says the Judge charged her with contempt of court. She was jailed, then released a few hours later.

Despite Valentine's airs, the Douglasville Police Department is reviewing her complaint.

"I've been a Muslim 11 years," said Valentine. "This is the first blatant discrimination I've experienced."

Valentine is pursuing a possible lawsuit with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union.

In a related action, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called on Georgia Attorney General Thurbert E. Baker to place sanctions against Judge Keith Rollins for violating the religious rights of Valentine and other women.