A Michigan woman is demanding $250,000 from the City of Ferndale after police required her to remove her hijab during a 2021 booking photo — a moment she says left her “traumatized,” violated her religious rights, and caused lasting emotional distress.

The woman, Helina (or Helana) Bowe, says her hijab is a core expression of her Muslim faith.

“I’m traumatized and feeling numb and detached,” Bowe said.
“I’m Muslim, so it’s very important that I wear hijab. It’s a form of worship for me — like I’m constantly in worship to my creator.”

But Ferndale police say the arrest had nothing to do with religion — and everything to do with illegal activity discovered during a traffic stop on 8 Mile Road.

POLICE ACCOUNT: FRAUDULENT PLATE, ILLEGAL WEAPON

According to Ferndale Police:

Bowe was stopped for a fraudulent or improper license plate

She told officers she had a taser

Officers instead found a stun gun, illegal to possess in Michigan without proper licensing

She was arrested and taken to the police station for booking

Standard identification procedures required a mugshot without head coverings

Police say they followed department policy, stressing that mugshots typically must show a person’s full face and hair to ensure accurate identification.

THE HIJAB REMOVAL — AND THE LAWSUIT

Bowe says officers forced her to remove her hijab while male officers were present, a humiliation she describes as equivalent to being undressed in front of strangers. She later filed a claim seeking $250,000 in damages, arguing her civil and religious rights were violated.

Her legal team claims she should have been permitted to remain covered, noting that DMV photos, passport photos, and other official documents commonly allow religious head coverings.

THE RIGHTS DEBATE: WHERE DOES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM END AND POLICY BEGIN?

This clash strikes at a growing national debate:
Do booking procedures outweigh religious accommodation — or can police departments update outdated policies?

Civil rights groups say the answer is obvious.
Law enforcement groups argue booking photos must remain standardized for safety and identification.

THE PUBLIC REACTION: OUTRAGE VS. “FOLLOW THE LAW”

The case has reignited fierce discussion online:

Supporters say:

Removing a hijab is a profound violation of modesty

Religious accommodations should be automatic

Police could have taken the photo privately with a female officer

Critics counter:

She was arrested while committing multiple violations

Standard procedures should apply equally

She is using religion to “play victim” after breaking the law

BOWE’S CLAIM: “THE EXPERIENCE CHANGED ME”

The lawsuit states that Bowe suffered psychological harm and lasting emotional trauma. She described the experience as:

“Numbness, detachment, shame, and devastation.”

She says the booking photo without her hijab should be destroyed, and the city must compensate her for the violation of her rights.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The demand has moved into the legal pipeline, and Ferndale officials are preparing for what could become a high-profile civil liberties case — one that may end up redefining police booking standards statewide.

As the debate intensifies, one thing is clear:
This case is no longer just about a traffic stop.
It has become a lightning rod in America’s ongoing battle over religious freedom, policing, and civil rights.