LA County Sheriff Dept. Applauded for Restoring Religious Rights of Muslim Inmates

 

Garden Grove, CA: The Islamic Shura Council appreciates the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for restoring the religious rights of Muslim inmates by allowing them to congregate for Friday prayers for the first time in its history.

Earlier last year, the Islamic Shura Council also secured the rights of Muslim inmates to receive halal meals for the first time in the history of the LA Sheriff Department jails.

“I thank the ACLU-Southern California for its partnership with the Islamic Shura Council in pursuing the restoration of religious rights of the Muslim inmates at the LA County Jails,” said Imam Abdul Hafiz, Director of the Prison Outreach Program of the Islamic Shura Council.

Over the years, the Shura Council has received many complaints and its volunteer Muslim chaplains have also personally spoken to many Muslim inmates about several difficulties they face at the LA County Jails.

The Shura Council in collaboration with ACLU wrote to and met with the LA Sheriff Department on several occasions, demanding an immediate redress for the religious rights of Muslim inmates. “Belated but badly needed change,” said Shakeel Syed, the Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council.

“On behalf of myself and the Shura Council, I appreciate the partnership of more than 30 religious leaders, " said Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Islamic Shura Council.

We urge the community to support Shura Council’s Prison Outreach Program to continue its education and advocacy for the Muslim inmates.

For more information visit www.shuracouncil.org.


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Editor: Akhtar M. Faruqui
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