CAIR Announces Successful Settlement of Lawsuit for Mich. Muslim Inmate Denied Adequate Ramadan Diet

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 2/24/17) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the successful settlement of a lawsuit on behalf of a Muslim inmate brought against the Michigan Department of Corrections over the denial of adequate nutrition during the annual month-long fast of Ramadan.

CAIR’s lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount.

The lawsuit, which was originally filed by the inmate in the U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division in 2012, challenged a policy that required Muslim inmates to sacrifice an adequate diet when they elected to participate in the Ramadan fast.

Muslim inmates received as little as one-third of the recommended daily calories in Ramadan 2011. The court recently appointed CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri and co-counsel Shereef Akeel to represent the inmate after reaching a successful settlement on a similar case brought on behalf of several inmates. 

Since the filing of that lawsuit, MDOC increased the amount of food it provides Muslim inmates participating in the Ramadan fast to satisfy the nutritional and caloric guidelines set forth in the United States Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Agriculture “Dietary Guidelines for Americans.”

SEE: CAIR-MI Settles Suit Against MDOC Over Ramadan Meals

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.

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CONTACT: CAIR National Litigation Director Lena Masri, 248-390-9784, lmasri@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com