This past Thursday, a 27-year-old Muslim woman filed a lawsuit against the Dearborn Heights Michigan Police Department, accusing them of violating her constitutional rights by making her remove her headscarf. According to USA Today, she had been arrested her for driving on a suspended license.

When pulled over, Malak Kazan was taken into custody due to a traffic misdemeanor. A male police officer asked her to remove her headscarf for the purpose of taking her booking photo, to which she objected. She stated that her faith requires her to cover her hair and neck in the presence of men who are not part of her immediate family.

The Huffington Post reports that Kazan relented, but asked for a female officer to take her photo rather than a male officer. However, her request was denied. According to her lawsuit, the first officer then threatened her with further detention if she didn't comply.

The lawsuit also claims that Kazan experienced "extreme shame, humiliation, mental anguish, and emotional distress" when she was forced to remove her hijab. She said of the experience, "It was such an uncomfortable feeling... I've worn my scarf for 12 years and my religion says that I can't take it off. It's not just a religious issue; this is a part of me. It's my culture, my life and my identity."

Kazan's attorney, Amir Makled, stated, "Malak has been very brave by going forward with this case. It's something that's going to be heightened exposure for her, and she's kind of already suffered a little bit of backlash ... The level of racism that's out there, that she has witnessed on some of these websites [that covered her case], it's been very upsetting to her. But she still carries on and is still proud to be a trailblazer for a just cause."

As well as filing a lawsuit, Kazan is proposing that the Michigan Police Department modify its present policy so a Muslim woman can wear her hijab during booking procedures. Makled stated, "She doesn't want to have other women [undergo similar experiences]... It's a women's rights issue as well as a Muslim rights issue."