The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed formal charges filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) against the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) for religious discrimination and retaliation against a Muslim incarcerated individual.
The charges stem from a 2024 incident at the Oaks Correctional Facility in Manistee County during Ramadan. Corrections officers reportedly forced a fasting Muslim inmate into segregation, stripped him, and ordered a drug test despite having no reasonable suspicion of drug use. When the dehydrated inmate requested additional time to produce a urine sample due to his fast, officers denied the request, gave him hot shower water to drink, and issued a disciplinary infraction. Although he provided a negative test shortly after and an internal investigation later confirmed the infraction was improper, he was subjected to 10 days in isolation.
The MDCR is seeking non-discrimination training for prison staff and financial compensation for emotional distress, financial hardship, and lost property.
In response to the filing, CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid said:
“We welcome the Michigan Department of Civil Rights’ decision to hold the Department of Corrections accountable for this egregious mistreatment. Religious freedom does not end at the gates of the correctional facility. We call on MDOC to immediately adopt systemic reforms and ensure its staff respects the fundamental rights of all incarcerated Muslims.”
He noted that CAIR offers a booklet, titled “A Corrections Officer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” designed to help avoid such cases.
SEE: CAIR’s Corrections Officer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar
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CONTACT: CAIR-MI Executive Director, Dawud Walid (248) 842-1418, [email protected]; CAIR-MI Lead Staff Attorney, Amy V. Doukoure (586) 943-8823, [email protected]