August 28, 2024

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights organization, and its California chapter (CAIR-CA) today welcomed and shared the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)’s newly released one-pager explaining the June 20 preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California in Sacramento, halting the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) no-beard policy. This landmark decision, resulting from a lawsuit filed by the DOJ, ensures that CDCR Peace Officers who maintain facial hair for religious reasons will be allowed to continue their service without compromising their faith.

SEE: Court Orders California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to Pause its No-Beard Policy

CAIR-CA’s Sacramento Valley/Central California (SV/CC) office is particularly proud to highlight that one of the named plaintiffs in this action, Mubashar Ali, is a client represented jointly by CAIR-SV/CC and the ACLU of Northern California. 

In a statement, CAIR-CA CEO Hussam Ayloush said:

“Religious observances are integral parts of individual and collective identities, and no employee should have to choose between their job and their sincerely held religious beliefs. Accommodation for these beliefs is not just a courtesy, it is a fundamental right that must be respected in every aspect of public service.  

“We welcome the judge’s order as a significant step towards ensuring that people of all faiths working in California correctional facilities can perform their jobs with dignity.”  

In a statement, CAIR-SV/CC Managing Civil Rights Attorney Layli Shirani said:

“While this is a provisional victory, it is a very positive step toward restoring respect for religious freedom for men of the Muslim and Sikh faiths at the CDCR. This win would not have been possible without the courage of individuals such as our client, Mubashar Ali, who, at great spiritual harm, shaved his beard for nearly 18 months and lent his name to this action.  

“Along with our co-counsel, the ACLU of Northern California, we thank the DOJ for recognizing the ‘irreparable’ nature of this harm and bringing this application for preliminary relief to the Federal District Court in Sacramento.”

The Court’s ruling directs the CDCR to temporarily allow affected Peace Officers to continue their duties or receive paid leave while it considers how to accommodate their religious practices. This preliminary injunction underscores the need to ensure the judiciary upholds religious freedoms for all individuals. CAIR and CAIR-CA remain dedicated to supporting and defending the rights of individuals to practice their faith without facing undue obstacles or discrimination.

Last year, CAIR-CA co-sponsored SB 309, which aimed to create a statewide policy ensuring the right to religious headwear, clothing, and grooming for those in California’s carceral system. Previously, the provision was applied inconsistently throughout the state and did not meet the heightened protections under federal law. The bill was signed into law by Governor Newsom in October 2023.