At MLFA, we want to contribute in a fundamental way to the ongoing story of
civil rights in the US.
After establishing CLCMA, we focused our efforts more intensely on setting clear precedents that would positively impact the lives of all Muslims going forward. As is often the case, however, the story of civil rights abuses rarely affects only one group.
The cases we fight are unquestionably about the discrimination being leveled at the Muslim community, but they have the corresponding effect of addressing universal issues of freedom of religion, unequal treatment of people groups, and unwarranted scrutiny based on a person or a group’s heritage, place of origin, religious beliefs, or their physical characteristics.
One such fundamental human right is the freedom to be able to practice one’s sincerely held beliefs without recrimination.
A clear example of a case which took on this issue was that of Akili Ujima, a long-term employee at the Bureau of Prisons. Despite being in good standing in a job that
required him to be conscientious and responsible, Mr Ujima was denied the right to use his lunch break—his own free time—to travel a short distance to a mosque across the street to attend Friday prayers. He was repeatedly denied the right to practice his religion without being given any adequate explanation.
Lawyers at CLCMA saw his case as a perfect opportunity to engage in litigation that would benefit not only Mr. Ujima, but would also establish a precedent that would help many others as well.
