Police, guards on trial for forced removal of asylum-seekers’ hijabs

September 1, 2022   

(Yle) Seven police and security guards of the Häme Police Department are facing charges for forcing female asylum seekers to remove their head coverings for registration photos.

The indictment in the trial, which opened in the Kanta-Häme District Court on Wednesday, concerns incidents in May 2017 in the city of Hämeenlinna when women applying for asylum refused to remove their hijabs for police registration photos. Police and security guards then removed the women’s scarves by force.

The police officers and guards involved are facing charges of assault, incitement to assault and breach of duty.

Seven individuals have been charged, including the inspector who ordered the removal of the scarves.

Read more.

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