DAR AL HARB-U.S.A.-FLORIDA: MOSLEMS SUING FOR HALAL FOOD IN PRISON

Muslim Inmates Sue State Over Diet

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- There are specialty stores that sell the foods that make up a Muslim or Halal meal.

The goat, chicken and lamb look about the same as the meat you'd find in a grocery store, but it's not the same."The Halal meat is prayed over according to their religious beliefs and their god Allah," said Safia Khalid, of the Shalimar Food Store. [And slaughtered in a most horrible inhumane way...ed. A.I.]

Meat that has specifically been prayed over is the only meat Muslims can eat.

According to a lawsuit filed by a group of Muslim inmates, Muslim convicts at New River Correctional in Raiford and other prisons across Florida are not getting the proper meat or meals that go with their faith.

"They are alleging that in violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, they are entitled to receive the tenets of their faith and receive the Halal meal. Other inmates receive their dietary meal and they (Muslims) do not," said Randall Berg of the Florida Justice Institute.

Berg is the inmates attorney. He said the five Muslim inmates made several requests for a Halal or Kosher diet and the requests were denied.

First Coast News has learned a Kosher diet is provided for approved Jewish inmates.

The Department of Corrections tells First Coast News there are two meal plans available for Muslims.

The vegan, which excludes animal products, is one. The other is the alternate entree, made up of peanut butter or cooked dried beans.

But the Muslim inmates want something else.

"The Department of Corrections allows for Jewish inmates to receive Kosher food. They are not allowing Muslim inmates to receive their Halal meal," said Berg.

According to the Florida Justice Institute there are about 3,200 Muslim inmates in Florida.




Pertinent Links:

1) Muslim Inmates Sue State Over Diet