Tulsa Muslim woman sues sheriff over headscarf removal

TULSA — Suha Elqutt, a Muslim, says she was turned away from the Tulsa County Courthouse because of her religious headscarf.

The Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), and the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma, filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the county sheriff on her behalf.

“It’s disappointing that in 2018 we should have to reassert the rights of Muslim women to be allowed to exercise their religious beliefs,” said CAIR Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure.

The lawsuit alleges Elqutt was refused entry to the courthouse on April 10 when metal detectors were set off by a hairpin under her hijab.

“Today Tulsa joins a number of cities across the United States that are facing challenges over their treatment of Muslim women who wear the hijab or religious head covering.”

The lawsuit says officers insisted Elqutt remove her headscarf in front of male sheriff's deputies in violation of her religious beliefs.

She entered the courthouse after two female deputies inspected her hair in a parking garage.

“Our courthouse is a building where we deal with people of every nationality, race and religion on a daily basis,” said Sheriff Vic Regalado. “We treat everyone the same.”

Sheriff Regalado says he watched the security video and doesn’t believe deputies did anything wrong.

He says they may need to take another look at procedures, but a lawsuit isn’t necessary.

Click HERE to see surveillance video from the courthouse.