Sunni Prisoners May Proceed With Free Exercise Claims

In Abdullah v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections, 2005 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 27999 (ED Wis., Nov. 2, 2005), a federal district judge allowed Sunni Muslim prisoners to proceed with free exercise and equal protection claims alleging that prison officials denied their requests for various religious articles essential to their Sunni Muslim faith. These included prayer oil, non-pork soap, a turban/scarf, a silver ring bearing the name of Allah, a "Thwab (long shirt/robe," a "Miswak (toothstick)" and "Khuffs/Khuffayn (Leather socks)." They also claimed they were denied "special food for religious observance" and a religious diet. Finally, plaintiffs asserted that they were refused permission to hold a religious service separate from the rival Nation of Islam sect, and were denied an inmate-led study group.