Two Muslims settle lawsuits over church services in jail

CLEVELAND (AP) — Two Muslim women who said they were forced to attend Christian services at a county jail in Cleveland while being held there have settled federal lawsuits with county officials, according to settlement agreements released recently.

They show Cuyahoga County paid $48,500 to Sakeena Majeed and $32,500 to Sonya Abderrazzaq.

The women, who served sentences for misdemeanor convictions, alleged in separate lawsuits they were required to attend religious services led by a Baptist minister while they
were housed in a trustee pod at the jail. They also said they were harangued for not actively participating.

Attorneys for the women said the practice has been stopped.

Majeed’s attorney, Matthew Besser, said the case was about stopping the government from telling people “which God to pray to, or whether to pray at all.”

Majeed, of suburban Rocky River, had been jailed after pleading guilty to assault. She was arrested on her lunch hour after getting into a confrontation with a police officer who had stopped her for jaywalking, her attorney said.

Abderrazzaq had been jailed after pleading guilty to a charge of operating a vehicle while under the influence.