The ACLU of Indiana is suing the Boone County jail on behalf of a Muslim inmate, alleging the jail refuses to serve him meals that conform with his faith.
Gannon Thomas is a practicing Muslim and follows a Halal diet. Pork is not allowed and other meats must be slaughtered in a specific way.
In a federal complaint, Thomas says the jail frequently serves him pork and other non-Halal meals despite his request for a special diet.
The ACLU filed the complaint on Thomas' behalf, saying the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, or RFRA, specifies a government agency cannot "burden a person's religious exercise." The ACLU says as a government agency, it is unlawful for the Boone County Jail to refuse Halal meals to an inmate.
According to the complaint, jail staff do not honor special diets that are based on choice, such as "vegan, vegetarian, or religion," and will only provide special meals for medical diets.
The lawsuit requests the court to require the Boone County Jail to serve Thomas a Halal diet and award financial damages and attorney's fees.
This post will be updated.