Court Cases
Hassan v. City of New York
Case Overview
In January 2002, the New York Police Department (NYPD) began conducting a program to secretly monitor the lives of Muslims, their businesses, houses of worship, organizations, and schools in New York City and surrounding states. This surveillance was based entirely on their religious faith, in direct violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, which protect against discrimination on the basis of religion.
In 2012, Muslim Advocates and partner organizations filed a lawsuit against the City of New York on behalf of several individuals and groups who were harmed by the unwarranted surveillance.
In April of 2018, the City of New York agreed to a settlement in the case. Under the terms of the settlement, the NYPD confirmed that it will reform its discriminatory and unlawful practices by agreeing to no longer engage in suspicionless surveillance on the basis of religion or ethnicity, create the first-ever NYPD Policy Guide with input from Muslim Advocates’ clients, and pay damages for income lost as a result of being unfairly targeted by the NYPD and for the stigma and humiliation harms they suffered for being targeted on the basis of their religion.
CASE DETAILS
Date filed: October 3, 2012
Court(s):Â United States District Court for the District of New Jersey; United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
The Latest

After Landmark Surveillance Lawsuit, New Jersey Muslims Meet with NYPD

Settlement Reached in NYPD Muslim Surveillance Lawsuit

Timeline of Advocacy Against NYPD Muslim Spying Program

Challenge to NYPD Muslim Suspicionless Spying Program in Federal Court

Jan 13: Oral Arguments in NYPD Muslim Spying Case

Why I’m Fighting the NYPD’s Surveillance of Muslims

Civil Rights Attorneys Who Took NYPD to Court & Won Slam Rep. Peter King on Muslim Surveillance Advice to President-elect Trump

Court Gives NYPD Green Light to Conduct Religious Surveillance

New Jersey Muslims Appeal Ruling on NYPD Surveillance

Statement on Settlement of NYC Muslim Surveillance Lawsuits

Statement on Dismantling of the NYPD Demographics Unit

Leading Groups Stand Strong With American Muslims in Appeal of NYPD Spying Lawsuit

NYPD Muslim Surveillance Case Reinstated

New Jersey Muslims Respond to NYPD’s Attempt to Dismiss Discriminatory Spying Case

CNN – Settlement Reached in Third Lawsuit Accusing NYPD of Spying on Muslims

New York Public Radio – NYPD Pays $1 Million, Vows Surveillance Reforms After Settling with Muslims in New Jersey

Video – Hassan v. NYPD Full Documentary
Related Documents
Court Filing
Opinion
October 13, 2015
Court Filing
Reply Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants
November 7, 2014
Court Filing
Opening Brief of Plaintiffs-Appellants
July 3, 2014
Court Filing
Opinion re Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint
February 20, 2014
Court Filing
Plaintiffs’ Brief in Opposition to Motion to Dismiss First Amended Complaint
January 25, 2013
Court Filing
First Amended Complaint
October 3, 2012
Court Filing
Complaint
June 6, 2012