PORTLAND, Maine – A Maine sheriff’s department is facing backlash from both Muslim and African American civil rights group after four Muslim women were arrested during a #BlackLivesMatter protest.

The department is investigating whether the rights of the Muslim protesters were violated when they were booked into a county jail and had their mugshots released without them wearing their hijab.

The women claim were “intimidated” into removing their religious headscarves following their July 15 arrest for allegedly blocking traffic during a Black Lives Matter protest in the city. 

Twelve other protestors were arrested during the evening.

The four Muslim women said they were promised by jail officials that the photos of them without their hijab wouldn’t be released to the public. 

The women were booked into the Cumberland County Jail, which requires Muslim women to have their booking photos taken with and without their hijabs.

Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce said the jail has had the policy since 2009 requiring women to remove their hijabs to check for contraband. 

He said it’s always done in private by a female officer, and if there’s a threat, they’re given a temporary hijab from the jail.