Prison Service Apologizes After Offering Muslim Inmates "Halal" Pork Chops

August 21, 2004

Source: The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,1287716,00.html

On August 21, 2004 The Guardian reported, "The Prison Service yesterday apologised after inmates at the top security Belmarsh jail, which houses Muslims accused of terrorism, were offered a pork chop for their evening meal. Abu Hamza, the radical cleric whom the United States wants to extradite for a string of alleged offences, was among those who were given a menu describing the chop as a halal choice. Authorities at Belmarsh did show some attempt to accommodate the cultural needs of Muslim inmates, some of whom are held without charge. For Muslims pork is considered haram or unclean and is forbidden. Belmarsh's governor apologised to Muslim inmates for the blunder...Inayat Bunglawala from the Muslim Council of Britain condemned the offering of pork chops to imprisoned Muslims as being 'immensely insensitive.'"