(Arkansas Times) The Council on American-Islamic Relations has sued the state Correction Department for requiring inmates to attend combined religious services for three faiths — Islam, Nation of Islam and Nation of Gods and Earths.
CAIR and Douglas Laycock of the University of Texas have sued on behalf of Gregory Houston Holt, also known as Abdul Maalik Muhammad, and other inmates. Holt has sued Arkansas successfully before. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that he should be allowed to grow a beard as part of his faith.
Holt argues that the required combined Friday service violates his faith’s requirement of attending a service led by adherents of Islam because the other groups have differed beliefs and practices. That amounts to a First Amendment violation, his suit filed in federal court in Little Rock says.
