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The deadline is a couple of weeks away for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission to finish their investigation of a discrimination complaint filed by CAIR on behalf of a woman who wants to wear a hijab as an on duty Columbus Ohio police officer. CAIR filed the complaint on August 20, 2015. A September 28, 2015 email from G. Michael Payton, Director of the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, informed Florida Family Association: “Please note that our state law requires the investigation to be finished within one year from the date of filing.” Therefore, the commission has until August 19, 2016 to complete their investigation.
The Ohio Civil Rights Commission has not responded to Florida Family Association’s recent request for the status on the complaint. Online searches indicate that there have been no news reports regarding this issue since the fall of 2015. Additionally, CAIR has been silent on the complaint.
Florida Family Association sent out an email alert on June 24, 2015 titled CAIR denounces Columbus Ohio Police Department for continuing to ban officers from wearing hijabs. The email and online Floridafamily.org article encouraged thousands of people to send emails to thank the Chief of Police, Deputy Chief of Police and Mayor. The emails thanked these officials for continuing a values neutral dress code for law enforcement officers by not opening the policy to allow hijabs, scarves and other cultural attire.
The Columbus Ohio Police Department continued their “values neutral dress code” and did not allow variations from it, including hijabs.
On August 20, 2015, the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Ohio) filed a discrimination complaint with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. CAIR wants the State of Ohio to force the Columbus Police Department to change their "values neutral dress code" to allow for hijabs.
Florida Family Association sent out several email alerts that asked people to send emails to encourage Ohio Governor and Civil Rights Commission to uphold Columbus Police Department's "values neutral dress code" for law enforcement officers. More than 12,000 people sent emails to each of the commissioners and the governor.
Pew Research found that only forty three percent (43%) of American Muslim women wear hijabs according a National Public Radio report. The majority of American Muslim women do NOT wear hijabs. Rasmieyh Abdelnabi, 27, grew up attending an Islamic school in Bridgeview, Ill., a tiny Arab enclave on Chicago's southwest side. It's a place where most Muslim women wear the hijab. Abdelnabi explains why she stopped wearing the hijab. She says that Islam teaches modesty — but wearing the hijab is taking it a step too far. "I've done my research, and I don't feel its foundation is from Islam," she says. "I think it comes from Arab culture." Read more at NPR.org
There is little debate online as to whether the Qu’ ran mentions hijabs because it does not. Additionally, the Qu’ ran does not provide a specific dress code except for the need to be modest. Therefore, the basis of what to wear is often decided in the manner described by Shaykh, Dr. Abou El Fadl. “Abou El Fadl argues that in contemporary Muslim societies people tend to become authoritative by imposing a single viewpoint to the total exclusion of others. Shariah (Islamic law) is then invoked to quash debate by people who are themselves not adequately qualified to do so.”
Wearing a hijab is clearly driven by culture and custom and is not a religious requirement. However, Islamists who want to Islamize America instead of assimilate into American culture are pushing these Sharia customs.
Most important of all in this issue is the public safety of the people police officers are sworn to protect. Only a values neutral dress policy can be certain to instill the best sense of security in the greatest number of citizens the police department serves.
The badge of a law enforcement officer should be the only symbol that citizens see when an officer arrives to serve and protect. A values neutral dress policy eliminates how the average citizen may feel when they first see a police officer who is dressed in a dissimilar cultural manner.
All five commissioners who serve on the Ohio Civil Rights Commission are appointed by the Governor of Ohio.
Florida Family Association has prepared an email for you to send to encourage the Ohio Governor and Civil Rights Commissioners to uphold the Columbus Police Department's "values neutral dress code" for law enforcement officers. A copy of your email will also be sent to the Columbus Mayor, Chief of Police and Deputy Chief of Police.
To send your email, please click the following link, enter your name and email address then click the "Send Your Message" button. You may also edit the subject or message text if you wish.
Click here to send your email to encourage Ohio Governor and Civil Rights Commission to uphold Columbus Police Department's "values neutral dress code" for law enforcement officers.
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