Oregon — The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced the filing of a federal lawsuit on behalf of three incarcerated Muslim men challenging the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC) for its systemic denial of religious accommodations.
The lawsuit alleges that ODOC officials violated the constitutional and statutory rights of Amir’Whadi Hassan, Niaz Khoshnaw, and Hamza Jama by refusing to provide certified halal (Islamically permissible) meals and by denying Muslim worshippers the ability to celebrate Eid holidays after Ramadan and the pilgrimage to Mecca with congregational prayer (Jummah) and family visitations.
[NOTE: “Halal” in terms of food refers to Islamically-permitted meals following guidelines similar to “kosher” for the Jewish community. Halal guidelines prohibit consumption of foods containing pork or alcohol.]
[ABOUT EID: Eid al-Fitr is the celebration marking the end of Ramadan, a holy month of fasting and prayer. Eid al-Adha is a festival marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage and commemorating the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismail.]
In contrast, the same facilities regularly accommodate the religious practices of Jewish, Native American, and Christian incarcerated individuals through holiday meals and enhanced visiting privileges.
READ CAIR’S LAWSUIT
“This case is about equal access to and accommodations for religious practice,” said CAIR Deputy Litigation Director Gadeir Abbas. “Oregon prison officials have no justification for denying Muslim men the ability to eat in accordance with their faith or celebrate their holiest days as other religious communities are permitted to do.”
“Every faith group deserves equal treatment,” added CAIR Staff Attorney Aya Beydoun. “By denying halal meals and blocking family visitation for Eid—while extending those same accommodations to other religious groups—ODOC is violating both the Constitution and federal law.”
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon, seeks court-ordered relief requiring ODOC to:
- Provide nutritionally sufficient and certified halal meals daily, including during Ramadan, Eid‑al‑Fitr, and Eid‑al‑Adha;
- Implement food‑handling protocols that prevent pork contamination and cross-contact;
- Offer certified halal meals to all similarly situated Muslims in ODOC custody upon request; and
- Restore family visitation and religious accommodations for Eid in the same manner afforded to other religious groups.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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