News Summary
Layla Soliz, a Muslim woman from Knoxville, has secured a $71,500 settlement with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office after her mugshot was released without her hijab. The incident raised important issues about religious freedoms and the treatment of Muslim women in police custody. Following her arrest during a pro-Palestinian demonstration, Soliz filed the lawsuit citing humiliation and a violation of her religious rights. The settlement includes the destruction of the controversial mugshot and has sparked discussions on reforms in police booking processes regarding religious attire.
Knoxville – Layla Soliz, a Muslim woman from Knoxville, has reached a significant legal settlement with the Knox County Sheriff’s Office after they published her mugshot without her hijab, sparking widespread discussions about religious freedoms and the treatment of Muslim women in custody. The settlement amounts to $71,500, addressing both humiliation and the violation of her religious rights during the booking process.
The incident leading to the lawsuit took place on May 15, 2024, when Soliz was arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration held at the University of Tennessee campus. She was charged with criminal trespassing while participating in the Nakba Day Vigil, an event commemorating the displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. Her legal action came in October 2024, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Soliz expressed that the public release of her mugshot without her hijab was degrading and humiliating, equating it to requiring a woman to remove her shirt in a public space. Such sentiments underline the cultural and religious significance of the hijab in her life.
As the case progressed, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office submitted a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on July 7, 2025, claiming they had “voluntarily deleted photos and videos” of Soliz on June 13, 2025. However, shortly before the deletion, a mutual agreement to settle was filed on July 10, 2025. A judge later ordered both parties to complete a formal dismissal of the case within 30 days.
As part of the settlement deal, Knox County agreed to pay Soliz $20,000 in addition to the earlier negotiated damages, bringing the total settlement to $71,500. Furthermore, the controversial mugshot will be permanently destroyed and cannot be used as evidence in any ongoing cases. Though the sheriff’s staff had previously assured Soliz that her mugshot would remain private, the eventual publicization contradicts these assurances and raises concerns about internal communication within the department.
The lawsuit initially named the county, Sheriff Tom Spangler, and Sgt. Jonathan Burgess as defendants, but after the settlement, Burgess was dismissed from the case despite being the one who initially uploaded the photo. Burgess, who resigned from his position on September 30, 2024, was criticized for his role in the publication of the mugshot.
Soliz, a 2012 graduate of the University of Tennessee and a staff member at Tayseer Seminary, is actively advocating for reforms in the handling of religious head coverings during the booking process by the sheriff’s office. Her case has received national attention, shedding light on the ongoing struggles of Muslim individuals in police custody and emphasizing the importance of religious rights within the justice system.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office has faced scrutiny for its current booking processes, which permit both covered and uncovered mugshots, and has been criticized for retaining exposed photographs of individuals. In response to similar incidents elsewhere, including in Davidson County, there has been a push for policy changes that ensure arrestees can maintain their religious coverings during the booking process.
Overall, the outcome of Soliz’s lawsuit not only brings her a financial settlement but also highlights a crucial societal issue regarding the treatment of women, personal dignity, and adherence to religious customs within law enforcement settings across the United States. The developments in this case may lead to significant changes in how law enforcement agencies approach similar situations in the future.
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Knox County Settles Lawsuit Over Muslim Woman’s Mugshot
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Author: STAFF HERE KNOXVILLE WRITER
The KNOXVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKnoxville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Knoxville, Knox County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Dogwood Arts Festival, Big Ears Festival, and Knoxville Asian Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Knoxville Area Chamber Partnership and United Way of Greater Knoxville, plus leading businesses in healthcare, education, and energy that power the local economy such as Covenant Health, University of Tennessee, and Tennessee Valley Authority. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
