Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Police Baton Crowd At Rye Playland After Muslim Woman Refuses To Remove Headscarf
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 31, 2011
Modified Aug 31, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Aug 31, 2011
Modified Aug 31, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Fifteen people were arrested at Rye Playland amusement park in Westchester County yesterday afternoon, and two charged with felony assault after a melee broke out when a park employee asked a Muslim woman to remove her headscarf before boarding a ride. The woman who attempted to ride the Dragon Rollercoaster, Haifa Ali, tells Patch that after she was told she couldn't ride unless she removed her hijab, she and a group of other Muslim women went to ask for a refund. Then "someone grabbed her hijab…a park ranger wrestled another one of the women to the ground," when "law enforcement began to converge on the group, hitting them with batons." Another eyewitness not with the group says she heard one female police officer yell, "I don't give a f*ck about your culture."
FOX has obtained a video of the incident, and interviews a visibly injured witness who said the police beat him despite peacefully submitting himself to arrest.
Fight Beaks Out at Rye Playland Over Muslim Headscarves: MyFoxNY.com
As soon as the women were violently restrained by the police, their husbands rushed to their aid and became involved in the fracas. All were there because of a daylong event organized by the Muslim American Society to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr, the end of Ramadan. According to LoHud, over sixty police vehicles from nine different agencies converged on the site to quell the disturbance, and two rangers suffered injuries.
Park officials blame the Queens tour director for not informing the group of the park's headgear ban, which they claim was "painstakingly" explained beforehand. "It's a safety issue on ride. If it's a scarf, you could choke," the Westchester Deputy Parks Commissioner says. He also believes the massive response by police was warranted "as a safety precaution," and goes on to tell the Post, "We don't discriminate. A baseball cap is headgear."
For the record, the policy states, "Loose articles and personal possessions such as electronic devices, keys, hats, glasses, backpacks, purses and stuffed animals should be left at home, kept in a locker or left with a non-rider while at the Park or on rides." But it then goes on to somewhat lift the "ban" on headgear, except on certain rides:
All items and clothing must be appropriately secured while on a ride; some smaller items can be stored/secured in cargo pockets or waist pouches. Hats must be secured, and jackets/sweaters must be worn properly and not around the waist while on a ride. Some rides do not allow backpacks, purses or head gear of any kind.
Naturally, a FOX News commenter already has a reasoned, informed opinion about the incident, and opines that the ordeal "can't help but raise a question about whether this was another attempt to force us to lower our guard against those Muslims who mean us harm." Of course. Who could forget the Six Flag Seven? WAKE UP, AMERICA! First they'll want to passively "celebrate" one of their two major "holidays" by bending the rules on a rollercoaster, next thing you know your little Billy is in a madrassa learning how to make a bomb out of a toilet paper roll.
One of the group members who was at the event tells LoHud, "I thought we would come and play in Playland. There's no playing here. Coney Island is better than this." Well you thought wrong, pal. This is Playland, not Prayland. Thanks to some trusty batons and nine different police agencies, the rides (and the funnel cakes, God bless 'em) stayed 100% American yesterday.
Tagged
9/11
fox news
headscarfs
islam
muslims
playland
Ramadan
rye
september 11
war on terror
westchester
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYPD searching for suspect after fatal stabbing in Queens
Officers responding to a call at the intersection of Jamaica Avenue and 173rd Street around 1 a.m. found 29-year-old Sulimon Ferrier, who had multiple stab wounds to his chest, police said.
By
Ben Feuerherd
Published Oct 3, 2026 at 4:38 p.m. ET
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
News
NYPD: 2 suspects in off-duty officer stabbing tried to rob victim
It’s unclear if the attackers knew the victim was NYPD.
By
Jill Webb
Astoria-born Chip City announces sudden closure days after former CEO sues
By
Catalina Gonella
US judge tosses Trump lawsuit targeting pro-Palestinian protesters in NJ
By
Willow Higgins
A big, bright Saturn will be the highlight of NYC's fall stargazing season
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .