Maine Sheriff Investigating Release Of Muslim Women's Booking Photos

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine sheriff's department is investigating whether the rights of Muslim protesters were violated when they were booked into a county jail.

The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office announced an investigation on Tuesday to determine whether booking photos showing the four Muslim women without their hijabs were improperly released to the public.

On Monday, a man told the Portland City Council that the women were "intimidated" into removing their religious headscarves following their July 15 arrest at a protest in the city. The man told council members that the women were promised that jail officials would not release photos showing them without their hijabs.

The women were booked into the Cumberland County Jail, which requires Muslim women to have their booking photos taken with and without their hijabs.