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| More halal meals served in Oklahoma prisons |
| By news.mywebpal.com - AP |
| Published: 06/05/2012 |
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BOLEY, Okla. (AP) — State prison officials said the number of alternative meals served to Oklahoma's Muslim inmate population has increased since a federal court settlement forced the adoption of more formal guidelines. Halal meals served at Oklahoma Department of Corrections facilities increased from more than 7,400 in January to about 11,500 in April, the Oklahoman reported Sunday ( http://is.gd/uYXBKZ ). Kosher, pork-free and vegetarian menu options have been available to Oklahoma inmates for several years, but the guidelines were updated to include a more defined halal option as part of a settlement agreement in February, corrections department spokesman Jerry Massie told the newspaper. A federal appeals court had ruled in favor of a Muslim inmate who said pork-free and meat-free meal alternatives offered to Muslim inmates did not meet dietary guidelines established by Islamic law. That inmate, who is 11 years into a 150-year sentence on rape and burglary charges, was awarded $63,000 as part of the settlement agreement. The state also agreed to provide him a halal meal option and to locate a vendor that will provide festival and holiday foods to Muslim inmates, the newspaper reported. Similar rulings have been upheld in Georgia, California and Ohio, the Oklahoman said. Halal calls for extra washes for fruits and vegetables, and meat — non-pork, non-carnivorous and blessed — has to be slaughtered in a certain way. Read More. |
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