Muslim death row inmate Abdul Awkal sues feds because he's served non-halal food in prison



BY CHRISTINA BOYLE

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Tuesday, October 04, 2011




A Muslim death row inmate says Ohio prison officials are violating his civil rights by refusing to serve him meals prepared under Islamic law.

In a federal court suit, Abdul Awkal contends Jewish inmates get kosher food, but his non-halal meals impinge his religious freedoms.

Ohio officials said they recently removed pork from its menus, but providing halal meals would strain its already-tight budget.

A second non-death row inmate has joined Awkal in his suit.

They say the vegetarian and non-pork options are not good enough and food must be prepared in compliance with Islamic law, which requires an animal's throat to be slit to drain its blood.

http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-10-04/news/30261635_1_death-row-inmate-halal-ohio-prison-officials