A Muslim civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against a prison in Virginia, alleging that the correctional facility has set up a Christians-only unit nicknamed the 'God Pod'.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations claims officials at the Riverside Regional Jail have set aside housing quarters exclusively for inmates who follow the Christian faith.
Teaming up with inmates Mitchell Young, Desmond Horton, Dominic Robertson and Chris Mayo, CAIR states in the paperwork that those who promise to live in accordance with the Bible get special treatment, which violates the American Constitution by favoring one religion over others.
Muslim civil rights group Council on American-Islamic Relations filed federal lawsuit Wednesday against Riverside Regional Jail in Virginia, alleging it set up the 'God Pod'
Plaintiff Mayo was released October 26. Young has since moved jails and is currently incarcerated at Nottoway Correctional Center in Burkeville.
The filing accuses jail officials of discriminating against those who are not guided by Christianity by preventing them from participating in programs that teach their own faith and excluding them from the accommodation.
They ask for judge Hon. Anthony J. Trenga at the United States District Court of Virginia Alexandria Division and a jury to resolve the legal uncertainty by taking the necessary action to prevent injustice.
They also want to be provided monetary relief for what they call a 'multi-pronged effort to disfavor Muslim inmates'.
The lawsuit added claims to a suit filed earlier this year by an inmate who alleged that Muslims were not provided food before the morning prayer so those observing the Ramadan fast were not able to eat before beginning their fast.
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Executive Director Nihad Awad (second left) speaks alongside CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper (left), attorney Gadeir Abbas (second right) and CAIR Litigation Director Lena Masri (right)
Lena Masri, CAIR's national litigation director, said inmates told the group's attorneys that about 30 to 40 inmates have been moved into the pod since it was established weeks ago
Inmates suing the prison also alleged Muslims were not provided food before morning prayer so were not able to eat before beginning their Ramadan fast
Two of the plaintiffs were allegedly tested on the 'sufficiency of their beliefs in Islam' before being told whether they could have the Holy Month menu. Young passed and Robertson failed.
Lena Masri, CAIR's national litigation director, said inmates told the group's attorneys that about 30 to 40 inmates have been moved into the pod since it was established several weeks ago.
Masri said a flier posted in the jail described the 'Life Learning Program' as one conducted by chaplains with the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry.
The same group states on its website that it has chaplains providing Bible-based programs in 22 states.
Masri's lawsuit said the action was not a 'result of ignorance or ineptitude but a part of the Defendants deliberate plan' to exclude those following Islam.
Using their First, Eight and Fourteenth amendment rights, the plaintiffs refer to how citizens of the United States should be free to peacefully practice their religion in a group, should not be placed under cruel or unusual punishment, and shouldn't deny a person equal protection of the law.
Masri said other Muslim inmates have complained that they have not had access to regular Islamic classes at the jail too.
Masri said a flier posted in the jail described the 'Life Learning Program' as one conducted by chaplains with the Good News Jail & Prison Ministry (pictured)
'You have a state entity that is endorsing and promoting Christianity over other religions, so Riverside has unlawfully sent a message of favoring Christianity over other religions, while at the same time actively preventing other faith groups - including Muslims - from practicing their own faith,' Masri said.
The lawsuit asks for an injunction to order the jail to dismantle the pod and to provide Muslim inmates with access to Islamic programming and adequate nutrition during Ramadan.
The flier posted in the jail said the Life Learning Program is open to inmates 'of any faith group'.
'The purpose of this program is to give you the opportunity to learn Biblical-based life-skills and put them into practice so you may experience lasting change in your life,' it states.
The same group states on its website that it has chaplains providing Bible-based programs in 22 states
Gadeir Abbas, a senior litigation attorney for CAIR, said the program is open only to those who want to study the Bible and live in accordance with the Bible.
'So really, it isn't open to inmates of all faiths or it is only open to inmates of other faiths who are looking to convert to Christianity,' Abbas said.
CAIR's recently-released 2018 Civil Rights Report, Targeted, showed a 17 percent increase in bias-motivated incidents against American Muslims from 2016 to 2017.
The Washington-based organization's report also showed a 15 percent increase in the number of anti-Muslim hate crimes in that same time period.
Joe Collins, the senior chaplain at Riverside who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, did not immediately respond to a call and email seeking comment.
As well as the jail itself, Collins joins in the defendants Jeffrey L. Newton, Superintendent, Captain John Langley, Chief of Security, Captain Laura Gray, Chief of Programs, and a man simply named as Keith, Food Service Supervisor.
All are being sued in their official and individual capacities.
Jail officials did not immediately respond to the Associated Press' call and emails seeking comment.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/22/lawsuit-says-virginia-jails-god-pod-violates/
Main photo article A Muslim civil rights group filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against a prison in Virginia, alleging that the correctional facility has set up a Christians-only unit nicknamed the ‘God Pod’.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations claims officials at the Riverside Regional Jail...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/22/03/6500926-6415853-image-a-11_1542857861819.jpg
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