Atlanta, USA - Officials of a south Georgia city where a Muslim woman was prohibited from wearing a traditional head scarf into a municipal courtroom met with members of a national Muslim advocacy group on Wednesday.
The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations said no resolution was reached in the case of Aniisa Karim, a 20-year-old who said she was banned from entering the Valdosta municipal court building on June 26 unless she took off the scarf.
``There's no definitive change thus far, but we have agreed to further discussions,'' said Ahmed Bedier, director of CAIR's Tampa, Fla., branch. ``There was a cooperative spirit, a healthy spirit, and everyone agreed from the beginning we were all cooperating together to achieve the same goal.''
George Talley, the attorney for the city of some 45,000 about 200 miles south of Atlanta, did not immediately return a phone message.
Karim, a Baltimore native who works for a Valdosta radio station, was attempting to contest a speeding ticket when she was stopped by a security officer. She said she explained that she wore the traditional garment for religious reasons, but was denied entry due to ``homeland security'' concerns.
CAIR and members of the Muslim attorneys group contend the city violated Karim's civil rights to free speech, freedom of religion and equal protection under the law.
A statement last week from the city said court officers acted properly, but expressed regret that Karim was offended by the court's rules and procedures.
Bedier said the two sides intend to discuss the issue further this week.