Civil rights group issues national reminder after jails in Georgia, Nevada and California failed to accommodate for Ramadan and Islamic practices
(WASHINGTON D.C., 3/8/2023) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today issued a reminder to jails and prisons nationwide today that they must provide religious accommodations for Muslim inmates during the upcoming holy month of Ramadan following complaints of incarceree rights violations in Georgia, Nevada and California.
[NOTE: Ramadan will begin on or about Wednesday, March 22, and will end on or about Thursday, April 20. The Eid al-Fitr holiday, marking the end of the fast, will begin on or about Friday, April 21. Because the beginning of Islamic lunar months depends on the actual sighting of the new moon, the start and end dates for Ramadan may vary. Consult local Muslim communities for the beginning and end dates of Ramadan. For local contacts, go to: http://www.islamicfinder.com or https://www.cair.com/about_cair/cair-chapters/ ]
During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, abstaining from food and drink. Muslims eat a breakfast meal (suhoor) before dawn and break their fast with an evening meal (iftar) during or after sunset. Ramadan is an important time for Muslims to grow spiritually and build a greater connection with God and the Islamic faith through prayer and repentance. Muslims grow spiritually during Ramadan by continuing to attend a weekly congregation prayer each Friday of the calendar year, an Eid-al-Fitr prayer commemorating the end of Ramadan, and a special prayer during the nights of Ramadan observed by Sunni Muslims.
CAIR 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.
“Our Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices makes clear what the religious practices and obligations are for incarcerated Muslims,” said CAIR Research and Advocacy Coordinator Ammar Ansari. “Ramadan is a month for spiritual growth, and correctional facilities should accommodate Ramadan needs by providing Halal meals at the right times and a suitable place for individual and congregational prayers. Failure to do so is a violation of the inmates’ constitutional rights and threatens their physical and spiritual well-being.”
SEE: A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices
BACKGROUNDER:
Over the past year, CAIR has received complaints from incarcerated Muslims at prisons and jails in Georgia, Nevada and California who alleged that their respective institutions failed to provide inmates with either meals on time before or after sunset, forcing inmates to choose between not eating or violating their religious duty to fast, or the ability to fulfill a religious obligation to pray.
In Georgia, Muslim inmates at DeKalb County Jail were repeatedly denied Halal food and timely Ramadan meals.
CAIR Legal Defense Fund and CAIR-Georgia settled a lawsuit brought against DeKalb County Jail and confirmed a stipulated settlement that the County Jail would ensure that Kosher meals meeting the definition of Halal under Islamic religious practices are provided in a timely manner.
In Nevada, Lovelock Correctional Center violated a court order directing officials to allow Muslim incarcerees to congregate for jumu’ah, the weekly congregational prater held each Friday that is integral to Islamic religious practices.
CAIR called on a federal court to impose a $10,000 fine on the Nevada prison. The court also chastised the Nevada Department of Corrections for making multiple “inaccurate or misleading representations” that delayed the federal court from acting.
In California, Orange County Sheriff Department (OCSD) failed to provide quality and timely meals in Ramadan. The Los Angeles Times reported that incarcerated Muslims were receiving brown bag lunches that were cold and rotting.
CAIR-LA reached an agreement with Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes to provide Muslim incarcerees with timely and quality meals for Ramadan. The OCSD began to provide higher quality iftars and three dates for Muslim inmates to break their fast during Ramadan. The OSCD also committed to providing Muslim inmates with an Eid dinner in May 2022.
SEE: Cold and Rotting Food Served in Orange County Jail, Report Says
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 a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, [email protected]; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Coordinator Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, [email protected]; CAIR National Research and Advocacy Coordinator Ammar Ansari 202-742-6410, [email protected], CAIR-Georgia Executive Director Murtaza Khwaja, 707-769-2342, [email protected]; CAIR-California, Greater Los Angeles Area Hussam Ayloush, 714-776-1847, [email protected]