Muslim inmates in Florida are asking to join a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of Jewish prisoners demanding that the state Department of Corrections provide kosher meals, AP reported.
A Miami federal judge is scheduled to hold a hearing on Tuesday on whether Florida prison officials should be ordered to serve kosher meals to Jewish prisoners who qualify.
Attorneys for a group of Muslim prisoners have told the press that their clients are unable to receive “halal” meals, prepared under Islamic law. The Muslims say they would accept the kosher diet as an alternative.
The Muslim prisoners say they should be treated equally and want to join the “Jewish” lawsuit, filed by the U.S. Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Florida prison officials announced that they have restarted the kosher meals program, but federal officials want a court order that would guarantee the program stays in place.