USA: Muslim Inmates Sue Oregon Prisons Over Denying Halal Meals, Holiday Visits

USA: Muslim Inmates Sue Oregon Prisons Over Denying Halal Meals, Holiday Visits
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Three Muslim inmates have filed a federal lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Corrections (ODOC), alleging religious discrimination for denying halal meals and holiday visitation rights, The Corvallis Advocate reported.

The suit, announced by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Oregon chapter in early July 2025, claims that since the COVID-19 pandemic, Muslim prisoners have been denied proper accommodations for Islamic dietary laws and religious holidays, including Eid al-Fitr.

Plaintiffs Amir’Whadi Hassan, Niaz Khoshnaw, and Hamza Mohammed Jama (released in January 2025) primarily housed at the Eastern Oregon Correctional Institute, say that ODOC misstates Eid dates, restricts congregational prayer, limits family visits during holidays, and provides inadequate halal meals compared to accommodations for other faith groups. The complaint highlights health issues caused by insufficient halal food options, forcing inmates to choose between religious observance and health.

The lawsuit seeks a permanent order to reinstate traditional halal meals and family visits on proper lunar dates, along with damages for unconstitutional discrimination. It also criticizes the lack of a statewide policy on Muslim holiday accommodations. ODOC declined to comment. CAIR notes this case follows a 2018 lawsuit, settled in 2020, involving similar issues. The group also recently filed another civil rights suit alleging anti-Muslim discrimination by the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.