Nadine Osman

A former California police officer will receive a $400,000 (£330,000) settlement for a lawsuit alleging anti-Muslim harassment.

Nabil Haidar, of Lebanese ancestry, filed a complaint against the San Jose Police Department in 2018, alleging he was subjected to anti-Muslim remarks, particularly following the 9/11 attacks.

According to the lawsuit, during a police force briefing in November 2017, a captain was honouring police veterans when a sergeant allegedly made insulting remarks about Haidar: “Captain, you forgot to mention Nabil. He is an ISIS veteran. He was with ISIS for two years”.

Haidar’s Attorney, Randall Strauss, said, “After the 9/11 attacks, he started to be targeted and attacked because he was a Muslim from the Middle East. What I mean is almost daily. He was called names, disgusting names, like terrorist, suicide bomber, member of ISIS.”

According to court records, the sergeant, and another officer whom Haidar accused of making anti-Muslim remarks were both suspended for a week because of their allegations.

Haidar took medical leave in 2019 and came back to light duty in 2021 before applying for retirement the following year.

On September 3, the San Jose City Council approved Haidar’s pre-trial settlement.

“Officer Haidar is a hero for taking on powers that be within the department, including the top command staff, in order to expose racism and Islamophobia,” Strauss said in a statement.

“He fought this case for years in the face of intense pressure that ultimately cost him his career in order to seek justice for himself, his family and all victims of discrimination by police officers, his family and all victims of discrimination by police officers.”

The city countered Haidar’s claims, asserting in legal documents that he willingly engaged and reciprocated the remarks. They argued that Haidar retorted with crude comments about the sergeant’s spouse and made jokes about his Italian heritage.

“It is deeply concerning that the city and San Jose Police Department did not acknowledge any wrongdoing, instead choosing to trivialise his claims by suggesting he was a willing participant,” said the Bay Area chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“We urge the San Jose Police Department to use this settlement as an opportunity for meaningful reform and as a foundation for rebuilding trust with the community it serves.