Hudson v. Maloney.

• Position: Freedom of religion - Brief Article

U.S. District Court

RELIGIOUS DIET

Hudson v. Maloney, 326 F.Supp.2d 206 (D.Mass. 2004). State prisoners brought a [section] 1983 action alleging that corrections officials violated their First Amendment right to free exercise of religion by refusing to allow them to practice their Muslim faith in accordance with their understanding of Islamic dietary requirements, and by banning possession of full-size prayer rugs. The district court granted summary judgment for the officials in part, and denied it in part. The court held that banning full-size Muslim prayer rugs, but allowing prayer towels, was justified by appropriate security concerns over the fire hazard and sanitation problems the rugs posed, and their potential use as a repository for concealed contraband. The court found that the officials were entitled to qualified immunity from liability for refusing to have meat prepared using...