Earlier this week, Nour Hadid, 25, was charged with one count of first-degree murder for the death of her two-year-old niece, Bhia. Her police booking photo was released Tuesday to the media.
However, Hadid's husband, Alaeddin, says that exposing his wife's face to the public is an "insult against our religion."
Orland Park detectives say they treated Hadid as they would any other suspect. The photograph depicts Hadid without her hijab (headscarf) and in a revealing top. She appears to be emotional and trying to cover her chest and shoulders with her hands.
Alaeddin and Nour Hadid are practicing Muslims. According to custom, Alaeddin says his wife "never leaves the home without covering up."
"It is against our religion," Alaeddin said, reports the Southtown Star. "We do not do this in our culture."
Alaeddin, who believes that Nour is innocent, has threatened to sue.
A number of Islamic advocacy groups—the Council on Islamic-American Relations, the Islamic Society of North America, and the Bridgeview Mosque Foundation—have declined to comment on the matter. Due to the circumstances of the case, they may be hesitant to weigh in on the controversy.
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"It's particularly humiliating because she appears to be in her underwear," said Kareem Irfan, former chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Chicago, "[but] I don't condone what she's alleged to have done."
Matt Bartosik is the editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and a "between blogs" blogger.
