(CLEVELAND, OHIO, 1/20/17) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) today welcomed a policy change by Lucas County Correctional Facility permitting religious head coverings (hijab) to be worn by Muslim women during booking procedures and during incarceration.
SEE: Lucas Co. Jail Now Issues Head Covers for Muslim Women; Change Made for Religious Rights
In a statement, CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson said:
“Lucas County Corrections Facility administrators and county law enforcement officials are to be commended for putting forth a policy that protects religious rights while ensuring public safety. This change in policy reflects the fact that pluralism and respect for individual rights form the bedrock of our Constitution, and that in protecting religious freedom and preserving human dignity we need not sacrifice safety and security.
“We call on corrections facilities and law enforcement departments in Ohio and across the country to consider the positive example of Lucas County in shaping their religious accommodation policies.
Shearson said CAIR has worked for similar policies in correctional facilities nationwide.
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CAIR Welcomes S.C. Jail’s New Policy Allowing Hijab
CAIR-WA Welcomes New County Policy Allowing Hijab in Jails, Courts
CAIR: ‘Hijab-Friendly’ Policy Urged in U.S. Prisons
She noted that CAIR offers an educational toolkit, called “A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practices,” to help correctional officers and administrators gain a better understanding of Islam and Muslims.
SEE: A Correctional Institution’s Guide to Islamic Religious Practiceshttp://www.cair.com/images/pdf/correctional_institution_guide.pdf
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
La misión de CAIR es mejorar la comprensión del Islam, fomentar el diálogo, proteger las libertades civiles, capacitar a los musulmanes estadounidenses, y construir coaliciones que promuevan la justicia y la comprensión mutua.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, jshearson@cair.com, CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726 ihooper@cair.com