Arkansas Supreme Court Dismisses Imam's Suit

In El-Farra v. Sayyed (Feb. 2, 2006), the Arkansas Supreme Court dismissed a suit brought by the former imam of the Islamic Center of Little Rock against the Center and its Executive Committee alleging defamation, tortious interference with contract and breach of contract. The court found that adjudicating the claims would require examination of religious doctrines and ecclesiastical matters, which the First Amendment precludes.