LNP Vicious Affront to Religious Beliefs and Dignity: Humiliating and Disempowering Muslim Women
- Michael T
- Jul 24
- 2 min read
On July 22, at Newport Street, Zainab Bah—a Muslim mother—suffered a horrifying ordeal at the hands of Liberian police officers attached to a power theft task force. Stripped of her hijab, beaten, and humiliated along with her child in front of neighbors and bystanders, Zainab’s only “crime” was living in a house newly investigated for alleged power theft—a situation she neither knew about nor contributed to2.
The incident, which was captured on video and quickly spread online, has sparked fierce public debate. In the first video, Zainab is seen being beaten, stripped of her hijab, and dragged along with her baby. A second video, cited by supporters of the police, shows Zainab throwing a stool at someone23.
Supporters of the police claim she threw the stool at officers. However, after careful investigation, Insights Liberia gathered that the stool was thrown at a little girl who provoked Zainab and was recording her. Unwilling to be filmed, Zainab threw the stool, targeting the camera. This is evidenced by the subsequent struggle to adjust the camera by its bearer after the stool was thrown, while the officer—later involved in the violence—stood by seemingly unaffected2.
The event has sparked intense debates on political, religious, and moral grounds. Activist Miatta Garmai Darwolor commented, “Even if the woman acted aggressively, the police officer’s response was unethical and unlawful. Stripping a woman naked, beating her while she held a child, and dragging both of them on the ground are clear violations of police ethics, human rights, and the duty to protect life and dignity. Police officers are trained to de-escalate, not to retaliate with brute force, especially against unarmed civilians. The officer’s actions were excessive and unjustifiable, regardless of the provocation. This is why public concern is valid, and accountability is necessary.”2
However, others, such as Glendy Jane Junius, defended the police, stating, “The woman’s level of aggression justified the response she received. In some countries, that degree of hostility could have led to a far more severe and possibly fatal outcome. LNP actions were justified in my opinion. Da ha l see it!!”2
Following protests by Fulani community members demanding justice, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman has publicly apologized. Nevertheless, many argue that apologies alone are inadequate in response to what they say is a recurring pattern of discrimination, brutality, and humiliation inflicted upon minorities, particularly women. As public outrage simmers, calls are intensifying for accountability rather than rhetoric to define the police response to incidents that so deeply undermine both civil rights and religious dignity23.
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