A federal judge granted a restraining order Thursday forcing prison guards in Alaska to stop giving Muslim inmates pork as they break their fasts during Ramadan, rights campaigners said.
\nCAIR said the US District Court for Alaska had granted its request for an emergency temporary order requiring guards to provide adequate meals in accordance with government health guidelines.
\n“CAIR has reported an unprecedented spike in bigotry targeting American Muslims and members of other minority groups since the election of Donald Trump as president,” the Washington-based organization said in a statement.
\nMuslims are currently marking the holy month of Ramadan, fasting from dawn until sunset, which means going without food for around 18 hours in Anchorage.
\nInmates observing the festival are given rations equating to 1,100 calories a day at most, according to the complaint, far short of the recommended daily amount of around 2,500 calories for men.
\nThe packages contain food made of pork, which is forbidden in Islam, rendering the actual nutritional value of the meals even more inadequate.
\nCAIR said the treatment contravened the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act and violated First and 14th Amendment rights to equal protection and free exercise of religion.
\nThe suit seeks a “balanced nutritional diet” for inmates, as well as policy changes and compensatory and punitive damages.
\nThe Alaska corrections department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
\nRamadan began on May 16 in the United States and will end on or around June 15.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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