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Muslim Head Scarf Lawsuit Dismissed After Prison Policy Change
The United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
dismissed a Federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Cynthia Rhouni, the ex-
wife of a State prisoner who was forced to remove her head scarf (a part
of her Muslim religion), while visiting her ex-husband in the Wisconsin
Department of Corrections. Rhouni claimed that her constitutional right to
practice her religion was violated because of a prison policy banning
wearing headgear inside State prisons. Prison personnel moved for summary
judgment which was granted.
The court held that there were no material issues of fact in dispute
because the prison changed the policy banning headgear, subsequent to this
suit, so long as the headgear does not conceal the wearer's identity. The
court further held that the State prison Secretary had no personal
involvement in creating or approving the policy banning visitor headgear
and was also not personally liable for any alleged constitutional
deprivation. See: Rhouni v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections, No. 05-C-
300-S (D. Wisc. 2005).
dismissed a Federal civil rights lawsuit filed by Cynthia Rhouni, the ex-
wife of a State prisoner who was forced to remove her head scarf (a part
of her Muslim religion), while visiting her ex-husband in the Wisconsin
Department of Corrections. Rhouni claimed that her constitutional right to
practice her religion was violated because of a prison policy banning
wearing headgear inside State prisons. Prison personnel moved for summary
judgment which was granted.
The court held that there were no material issues of fact in dispute
because the prison changed the policy banning headgear, subsequent to this
suit, so long as the headgear does not conceal the wearer's identity. The
court further held that the State prison Secretary had no personal
involvement in creating or approving the policy banning visitor headgear
and was also not personally liable for any alleged constitutional
deprivation. See: Rhouni v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections, No. 05-C-
300-S (D. Wisc. 2005).
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Related legal case
Rhouni v. Wisconsin Department of Corrections
| Year | 2005 |
|---|---|
| Cite | No. 05-C-300-S (D. Wisc. 2005) |
| Level | District Court |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |