By Alethia Kasben
Gongwer News Service
The Department of Civil Rights last week filed a discrimination charge against the Department of Corrections, alleging the agency required a urine drug test from an inmate who was in the midst of a religious fast and later put the inmate in segregation because of their inability to provide a sample.
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the formal charge and said the incident involved a Muslim inmate who was fasting during Ramadan.
Corrections spokesperson Jenni Riehle, however, said the department does not tolerate discrimination and has a policy prohibiting it based on religious beliefs or practices.
“MDOC does not agree with the charges of discrimination and retaliation filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights,” she said in a statement.
The case from Civil Rights will be presented at a hearing before an administrative law judge, who will hear both sides.
The Department of Civil Rights is recommending Corrections staff attend non-discrimination and non-retaliation training. The agency is also requesting that the Civil Rights Commission order Corrections to pay monetary compensation to the claimant for loss of property, emotional distress and financial hardship.
Specifically, the Department of Civil Rights alleges that two days after signing a settlement agreement related to a separate civil rights complaint, Corrections officers retaliated against the claimant by ordering the individual to submit to a urine drug test, knowing that they were participating in a religious fast.
When the individual could not produce a urine sample within an hour, they were placed in segregation and remained there for 10 days.
“Incarceration does not eliminate a person’s right to practice their faith, nor does it allow for retaliation for filing a civil rights complaint,” Civil Rights Executive Director John Johnson, Jr. said in a statement. “Our state’s civil rights protections must serve as a tool to preserve fair treatment for everyone.”
CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid welcomed the charge against the Department of Corrections calling its actions in a statement “egregious mistreatment.”
“Religious freedom does not end at the gates of the correctional facility,” Walid said. “We call on MDOC to immediately adopt systemic reforms and ensure its staff respects the fundamental rights of all incarcerated Muslims.”
Gongwer News Service
The Department of Civil Rights last week filed a discrimination charge against the Department of Corrections, alleging the agency required a urine drug test from an inmate who was in the midst of a religious fast and later put the inmate in segregation because of their inability to provide a sample.
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations welcomed the formal charge and said the incident involved a Muslim inmate who was fasting during Ramadan.
Corrections spokesperson Jenni Riehle, however, said the department does not tolerate discrimination and has a policy prohibiting it based on religious beliefs or practices.
“MDOC does not agree with the charges of discrimination and retaliation filed by the Michigan Department of Civil Rights,” she said in a statement.
The case from Civil Rights will be presented at a hearing before an administrative law judge, who will hear both sides.
The Department of Civil Rights is recommending Corrections staff attend non-discrimination and non-retaliation training. The agency is also requesting that the Civil Rights Commission order Corrections to pay monetary compensation to the claimant for loss of property, emotional distress and financial hardship.
Specifically, the Department of Civil Rights alleges that two days after signing a settlement agreement related to a separate civil rights complaint, Corrections officers retaliated against the claimant by ordering the individual to submit to a urine drug test, knowing that they were participating in a religious fast.
When the individual could not produce a urine sample within an hour, they were placed in segregation and remained there for 10 days.
“Incarceration does not eliminate a person’s right to practice their faith, nor does it allow for retaliation for filing a civil rights complaint,” Civil Rights Executive Director John Johnson, Jr. said in a statement. “Our state’s civil rights protections must serve as a tool to preserve fair treatment for everyone.”
CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid welcomed the charge against the Department of Corrections calling its actions in a statement “egregious mistreatment.”
“Religious freedom does not end at the gates of the correctional facility,” Walid said. “We call on MDOC to immediately adopt systemic reforms and ensure its staff respects the fundamental rights of all incarcerated Muslims.”
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