Muslim prison guard claims state won't let him pray at work

By The Associated Press

07.21.01

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GRAFTON, Ohio — A prison guard is suing the state, claiming his bosses won't let him pray at work.

Dawoud Kareem Muhammad, a seven-year employee at Grafton Correctional Institution, filed a First Amendment lawsuit July 18 in U.S. District Court in Cleveland. He claims the prison has refused to allow him to wear an Islamic skullcap at work or to pray there.

"All I ask is that I have a little spot so I can say my prayers and not be harassed about it," said the Lorain man. "If you can allow people to have smoke breaks, why can't I have a break to pray?"

Joseph Andrews, a spokesman for the state prison system, declined comment.

The suit says Dani Bowens began working at the prison in 1994. He soon became an Orthodox Muslim and changed his name.

Prison officials told Muhammad in July 1999 that he could not wear a skullcap under his uniform hat, the suit says. His attorney, Avery Friedman, said the prison discriminated against Muhammad because employees can wear crucifixes under their uniforms.

Muhammad was denied entry to the prison seven times because he wore the cap. He took three months leave last year because of stress from "religious intolerance," the suit contends.

In the Islamic faith, a person must pray five times a day. For a time, he prayed in a closet at work, but when officials found out they changed the lock, according to the suit.

The suit claims officials told Muhammad the prison "was exempt" from the constitutional protection for freedom of religion.

Muhammad is seeking $1.1 million in damages.

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