The Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today welcomed a decision by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons to allow female Muslim correctional officers to wear the Islamic headscarf, or hijab.
The policy allows Muslim correctional officers to wear hijabs as part of their uniform while working inside Philadelphia’s jails, according to prison officials.
SEE: Philadelphia prisons approve hijabs for correctional officers | Local News | phillytrib.com
“We welcome this decision that affirms the religious rights of state employees,” said CAIR-Philadelphia Executive Director Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu. “The First Amendment guarantees every American the right to practice their faith, including both the incarcerated and correctional officers.”
He noted that CAIR offers a booklet, called “An Employer’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” to help employers gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims in the workplace.
CAIR also offers an educational toolkit, called “A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” to help correctional officers and administrators gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.
SEE: A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
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CONTACT: CAIR-Philadelphia Execute Director Ahmet Tekelioglu atekelioglu@cair.com, 617-401-5397; CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com