Forcible removal of headscarf at Arizona State University comes amid ongoing protests that spread nationwide following pro-Palestine demonstrations at Columbia University.

Police in the southwestern US forcibly removed a headscarf from a woman taking part in a pro-Palestine protest at a university, as shown in footage of the incident.

Footage from Arizona State University, which quickly went viral, shows the police forcibly removing the headscarf of a woman while she tries to cover her hair with material from her dress. The woman’s face is pixelated and not seen.

Azza Abuseif, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) Arizona, released a statement saying: “The First Amendment guarantees the free practice of religion.

“Police cannot suspend this right. We condemn the reported actions of ASU police and call for a full investigation into this incident.”

Stating that there are reports that the headscarves of at least four women detained in the demonstrations were removed, Abuseif said CAIR Arizona is looking into the incident.

Source: Anadolu Agency