CHEYENNE, Wyo."” The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Thursday claiming that a Wyoming State Penitentiary policy restricting prisoners' mealtimes violates the constitutional rights of two Muslim inmates.[/b]
The ACLU filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on behalf of Joseph Miller and Hurie Purdiman Jr., two inmates serving time at the penitentiary in Rawlins.
At issue is an alleged "20-minute rule" requiring inmates to eat their meals within 20 minutes after the food is delivered to a cell or common dining area, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit seeks for the inmates to be exempted from the rule because it forces them to choose between eating and practicing their religion.
Miller and Purdiman claim that meals have arrived at the same time of day that they're practicing prayers according to their Muslim faith. On other occasions, meals arrived during a period of religious fasting and then were confiscated before the fast ended at sunset.
"If someone has started their prayer, unless they're willing to interrupt their prayer and leave at that moment, they forgo their meal because (the guards) won't go back and open their cell doors," said Jennifer Horvath, staff attorney for Wyoming Chapter of the ACLU. "It's not unreasonable to ask for some extra time to finish their meals. They have a right to practice their religion, and the prison has been treating it as a privilege."
To remedy that...Don't go to prison in the first place...I think a Muslim inmate has tried something similiar in a Arizona State Prison, and lost. I really think their case has no merit.IMO
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"If someone has started their prayer, unless they're willing to interrupt their prayer and leave at that moment, they forgo their meal because (the guards) won't go back and open their cell doors," said Jennifer Horvath, staff attorney for Wyoming Chapter of the ACLU. "
I find it interesting that the ACLU fights for 'freedom of religeon' for Muslims in prison, but goes quite the opposite direction towards Christians outside of the penalsystem.[:@]
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If they want to eat what they want, they shouldn't commit crimes...PERIOD!
They shouldNOT have a say in what they are served for food, none, zero, nada, no way!
The complaint isn't about what they are served for food, it's about when the food is served.
Quote:
They lost their ability to choose when they chose to commit crimes. I DO NOT FEEL SORRY FOR THEM IN THE LEAST!
Absolutely correct. Their food is likely served on a pretty well regimented schedule. Figure out when that is, and say your prayers at some other time.
It's Wyoming, so maybe the prison workerscan get away with it, but I don't see the need to push it. Come on, is it that difficult to bring a whopping two meals a little bit late? I don't understand the spite for them, whether because they're criminals or Muslims. It doesn't matter what they are. They have a right to be fed and practice their religion even while serving time. They shouldn't have broken the law, but sentences aren't handed down to drive a wedge between a man and God. Of all the times to bend the rules a little bit, this is one of them. If they don't, they're just going to cause more problems for themselves.
muslims sue over meals in prison
