(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Fifteen people were arrested at a New York amusement park after a scuffle broke out with Muslim visitors over a headscarf ban on certain rides.

The Muslim American Society of New York had arranged a trip to Playland in Rye, NY, Tuesday to celebrate Eidul Fitr, The New York Times reported.

Things were fine until some of the female visitors were told they couldn’t get on certain rides without removing their Muslim hijab, who refused to do.

One woman, Entisai Ali, began arguing with policemen over the amusement park’s headscarf, or hijab, rule, the report said, citing an eyewitness.

The ban was imposed about three years ago mostly to prevent hats from falling onto the tracks of roller coasters and other rides, park officials said.

“The cops started getting loud with her and she started getting loud, too. They pushed her on the ground and arrested her,” the eyewitness said.
Ms Ali’s cousin, Kareem Meawad went to try to protect the woman and was beaten by cops and

also arrested, the eyewitness said. Her brother, Issam Meawad, was pushed to the ground and taken into custody when he tried to help his cousin, she said.

“She just wanted to get a ride. That was it,” the eyewitness said of the initial confrontation. “It’s clear, this all happened because we’re Muslim.”

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