Muslim Death Row Inmate Settles Suit Over Lack of Halal Food in Prison
- Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:13pm by
Billy Hallowell
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Abdul Awkal (AP)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (The Blaze/AP) — In October, we brought you the story of a Muslim death row inmate who was suing over claims that the Ohio prison system was denying him meals prepared according to Islamic law, while providing kosher meals to Jewish prisoners. Now, Abdul Awkal has settled his lawsuit against the state.
Ohio had previously decided to remove all pork products from prison menus in response to the lawsuit, though inmates weren’t seeking a ban on pork.
This decision, though, didn’t solve that meat isn’t slaughtered in the appropriate way for Muslim inmates who adhere to religious tradition, said David Singleton, executive director of the Ohio Justice and Policy Center, which brought the lawsuit on Awkal’s behalf. He said the lawsuit will continue.
A judge has given lawyers and inmates for the state until next month to finish filing documents bolstering their arguments, ahead of an expected January trial.
Awkal, 52, is scheduled to die in June for killing his estranged wife, Latife Awkal, and brother-in-law Mahmoud Abdul-Aziz in 1992, in a room in Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court.
“The issue of eating Halal meals is especially important to me because I face a death sentence,” Awkal said in a filing in federal court back in 2011. “It is important to me that I follow the requirements of my faith as I approach death.”
Details of the settlement announced Wednesday afternoon weren’t released. Neither the inmate’s lawyer or the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction would comment.
The state argued as recently as last month that providing the meals, known as halal, could bankrupt the state’s food service system because thousands of inmates have declared themselves Muslim.
Attorneys for Abdul Awkal and a second inmate argued that the state was exaggerating the cost.
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Comments (144)
DETROIT JOHN
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:15pmJoe Arpio in Arz. has the right idea pink underware and bologne(chicken) sandwitch. enjoy!
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:20pmYou gotta love sheriff Joe.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:27pmI wish there were more Sheriff Joe’s in America. We need them.
Report Post »KenInIL
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 11:16pmThe guy’s on death row !! Pull the trigger !! Done.
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:08pmThis pig oughta be eatin turds in a bucket…. And warm urine…
Report Post »boundforglory
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:15pmLet him eat pork!!
Report Post »randy
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:16pm“The issue of eating Halal meals is especially important to me because I face a death sentence,” Awkal said in a filing in federal court back in 2011. “It is important to me that I follow the requirements of my faith as I approach death.”
The HEII with him! let him eat pork chops or die from starvation!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:19pmCome on…show a little compassion.
Report Post »Let him have ice in his pig urine.
randy
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:20pmAnd when he’s dead, mummify the bast@rd in Vermont maple bacon strips
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:29pmThey shouldn’t be catering to any prisoner, neither Jewish, nor muslim. If you landed in jail, you get no special rights.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 3:11pmI bet he‘s warmin’ up for those 72 virgins,maybe rose-smellin’ can pay him a conjugal visit before he develops carpal-tunnel
Report Post »asybot12
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 6:17am@randy, randy randy randy a few pig feet would be fine. I just happen to like maple bacon strips,what a waste on this a.,.
Report Post »stop2think
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:05pmMr. Awkal, you know what is supremely more important than eating according to your religious beliefs because you are approaching death? It is to refrain from murdering your fellow humans. Idiot.
Report Post »mils
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:14pmtrue!!…why on god’s green earth do we cater to prisioners???? they violted everyone’s rights by what ever they did to get in the prison..
Report Post »THIS TYPE TREATMENT NEEDS TO STOP…Rice, beans..reasonable meals.
..not Muslim inspired cuisine…prepared the right way..puke
I find this completely unreasonable to cater to the people in prison unless it is due to illness.
USPATRIOT101
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:18pmWhat would a man of such strong faith do to land on death row? Why didn’t his “faith” guid him away from such a horrible act?
Report Post »boundforglory
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:24pmWould they give a non-muslim on death row in a muslim country non-halal foods? No they wouldnt. Just in case you dont know what halal is, its where they chant some crap about their false god allah over the food while its being prepared. McDonalds serves halal and being a christian, I wont eat anything thats offered up to a false god or idol. 1st Corinthians chapter 8. I dont eat there for my own sake, besides McDonalds always makes me sick.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:04pmBut he‘s not mentioning that we’ve been feeding him for free when he was supposed to be executed long time ago .
Report Post »momrules
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:01pmThere should be no special food demands in prison at all.
The fact that there are thousands of inmates in prison that are Muslim is chilling. I wonder if they were Muslim before they went in or became Muslim afterward.
Report Post »Hiswill
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:06pmThey claim they are Muslim so they can get the better food. I don’t think you will see them practicing their faith.
Report Post »mike_trivisonno
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:12pmThere many many muslim converts in prison.
Islam is a low culture that attracts lowlifes.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 5:19pmMIKE: am sure they are Black Muslims who are attracted by all of the hate and racism they have to offer them.
Report Post »Angelteam02
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:00pmWhen are we going to stop giving in to these people…We as a county have yet to wake-up….They want to kill us and our way of life but yet they want “Rights”….“REALLY” Mr.Awkal….
Report Post »alwayshappy
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:58pmIf the state provide special meals for Jewsish inmates than it should provide special meals for Muslim imates or else cut-out the practice altogether! Inmates should eat what is served! Blame the Federal Bureau of Prisons for this nonsense!
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:55pmOkay, this is WAY out of control. I say we feed him Tony Luke’s pork sandwich 3 times a day. Whatever he does not touch, I will gladly claim….
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:53pm.
You been in Jail sense1992 WTF have you been eating for the last 20yrs?……..
I say Shoot this Turd and get it over with. Better yet cut his Head Off, those people seen to like that method…..
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:04pmThere is no excuse for convicted muderers surviving for decades and racking up millions in legal expenses. The bar should be high for the death penalty but, once it has been reached, justice should be swift.
Report Post »cessna152
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:05pmShoot him? But that would cost the tax payers .50 Cents. Why would we do that? We are much better off spending millions accommodating this murderer.
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:44pmCut down the appeals process and kill all murderers. That’s what made us civilized.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:42pmSuch a devout Muslim..it‘s important to him to make sure he eats Halal meat before he’s executed for killing his family. The “******” has his priorities a little askew.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:41pmFeed him pork blood pudding
Report Post »ares338
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:33pmIf you are prison, you eat what they serve or you don’t eat. Simple solution huh?
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:37pmAgree!
Report Post »Warphead
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:32pmI have the perfect diet for him. I call it the 7.62×39 diet. If he takes just one special 7.62×39 diet pill I promise he’ll lose weight.
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:37pmalong with silver bullet gun oil{13% pork fat}……can’t go to paradise
Report Post »SKR8PN
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:47pmI like this diet solution! Send him to his 72 virgins with a BLT just before the diet starts! LOL!
Report Post »McNamara
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:41pmI like your choice of calibers.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:32pmHalal food AND Kosher food should be supplied by their respective faiths. If your mosque or synagogue won’t foot the bill, eat what we serve. The taxpayer shouldn’t be on the hook for any additional costs of preparing religious adherent foods. Problem solved.
Report Post »GardenoftheGods
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:51pmA great thought! If religious groups won’t provide the appropriate food, the inmate can choose to eat what is served or to not eat. They are in prison to be punished…guess this muslim buttwipe shouldn’t have killed his family. I feel the same way about Jewish prisoners..if you can’t do the time, DON’T DO THE CRIME!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:55pmGarden, the Muslims fund a whole lot of “Muslim Outreach” programs in prisons. Let them fund this one too.
Report Post »Robert-CA
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:06pmI agree on that one , if you don‘t like the food please please don’t eat .
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:19pmagreed GONZO….let their respective religions foot the bill for any special menus…nothing wrong with bologna sandwhiches. Heck…the muslim will be dead in June, he’s not worth the outlay.
Report Post »johnsell
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:28pmExcuse me………what about his estranged wife and brother-in-law who he murdered………did he follow his religious beliefs then? I wouldn’t give him the time of day………for cripes sake, he’s scheduled to die for his sins. Maybe next time………LOL
Report Post »STS2_SS_Iver
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:40pmI’m gonna go out on a limb here and guess that he believed he WAS following his religion when he committed those murders.
Report Post »texasfarmer
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:28pm1992 and this guy is still breathing good air? Give him a pork taco and send him to his maker.
Report Post »NOBAMA201258
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 3:35pmLook at mumia abu jamal,he should have been executed 30 years ago now they changed it to life ,I wonder how much that has cost us so far with the neverending appeals process? I hope Ohio goes ahead and executes this guy,I mean is 20 years enough time to waste?
Report Post »kalayaan
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:27pmHe killed his wife and he still thinks he is clean enough to go to heaven?….amazing….
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:38pmChristians have the same belief, as long as there is TRUE repentance. There is only one unforgivable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:48pmhe can ask forgiveness, God is in the forgiveness business…but Allah is the wrong guy to ask it of. He’s screwed either way.
Report Post »zipbags
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:26pmSo he is concerned about breaking Muslim law by not eating the proper foods…But, murdering 2 people is ok??
Report Post »Locked
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:24pm“The state argued as recently as last month that providing the meals, known as halal, could bankrupt the state’s food service system because thousands of inmates have declared themselves Muslim.”
Then do what others states have done and just stop serving a special last meal…
Report Post »Locked
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:39pmEdit: Or rather, just stop all specialty food (as it isn’t specifically the last meal in question).
Report Post »JustJP
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:22pmThey should put him on a 100% Kosher pork diet.
Report Post »YellowFin
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:22pmGive him bread and water. Then he won’t have to worry about the pork.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 5:14pmBingo. Cheaper too.
Report Post »T-2
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:21pmwhat the hell? feed him bacon
Report Post »flatdaddio
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:18pmhe needs to go first…
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:17pmWhen will he learn? Jews are a special and protected class in our society.
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:25pmYour NAME suits you….
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:37pmThat’s what most deceivers would say. Thanks.
Report Post »AJAYW
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 1:42pm@The_Jerk
If you ate some pork blood pudding you would feel better
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 2:26pmTastes like chicken.
Report Post »Link8on
Posted on January 19, 2012 at 11:54pmDeport (I mean) outsource the Jewish prisoners to prisons in Israel.
Outsource the muslim prisoners to Afghanistans prisons.
Win win Win win
Report Post »reduce crime here.
reduce prison food expenses here.
Prisoners get the food they like.
Boost the economies of our allies.
TheJeffersonian
Posted on January 20, 2012 at 3:29pm@Link
Report Post »The vast majority of Jewish prisoners in our country aren’t Israeli. The vast majority of Muslim prisoners in our country aren’t Afghani. There’s no chance those countries would accept massive numbers of American criminals. Would you like it if America was responsible for holding and imprisoning all African Christian criminals?