Md. school’s Islam lesson was constitutional, 4th Circuit says
La Plata High School did not violate a Christian student’s constitutional First Amendment rights to freedom of religion and speech by providing lessons in Islam as part of a required world history class, a federal appeals court ruled Monday. In its 3-0 decision, the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said a comparative religion lecture, […]
Baltimore Co. schools won’t be closing for Muslim holidays
TOWSON — Baltimore County officials narrowly voted to keep schools open on Muslim holidays, prompting shouts of “Injustice!” from some members of the public. The Baltimore County Board of Education on Tuesday voted 6-5 against closing schools for the two most important Muslim holidays when they fall on school days. The vote followed an emotional […]
Baltimore city employee sues after Islamic-law marriage not recognized
A Baltimore city employee and observant Muslim has filed suit against his employer for not recognizing his Islamic-law marriage, which he says has left his pregnant wife without health insurance. Idris Abdus-Shahid and Baiyina Jones were married 17 years ago in a religious ceremony but never obtained a civil marriage license before they were married, according to the lawsuit, filed Thursday in [...]
Former beer company executive seeks new trial
Clippers trial, convicted lawyer and Islamic courts round out this week's Law Blog Roundup.
Deal approved in Muslims’ suit against McDonald’s
DETROIT — A judge on Wednesday finalized a $700,000 settlement between McDonald’s Corp. and members of Michigan’s Muslim community over claims a suburban Detroit restaurant falsely advertised its food as prepared according to Islamic law. Ahmed Ahmed, the Dearborn Heights man who represents plaintiffs in the class-action suit, claims he bought a chicken sandwich in […]
Muslim development opposed in rural Howard County
WESTMINSTER — A citizens group aims to limit new construction at a former Catholic school complex in rural Howard County that an Islamic community is considering buying. The Carroll County Times reports that residents of the Cooksville area met Thursday night with a representative from the Dar-us-Salaam community of College Park. The Islamic group is […]
McDonald’s settles lawsuit over Islamic diet rules
DEARBORN, Mich. — McDonald’s Corp. and a franchise owner have reached a tentative settlement in a lawsuit alleging that food at a Detroit-area restaurant wasn’t prepared according to Islamic dietary laws as advertised. McDonald’s and Finley’s Management Co. have agreed to pay $700,000. The money will be shared by Dearborn Heights resident Ahmed Ahmed, a […]
Man given 25 years for Catonsville recruiting center bomb plot
A Maryland man who once said he wanted to wage jihad against the United States renounced terrorism Friday as he was sentenced to 25 years for plotting to bomb a military recruiting center near Baltimore. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Manuelian told U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz that Antonio Martinez maintains the mindset that led […]
Citizen on no-fly list detained after cruise
McLEAN, Va. — An Oregon man who traveled to England by boat because of his apparent placement on the no-fly list was detained Monday upon his arrival in Great Britain, according to his family and lawyer. Michael Migliore, a 23-year-old Muslim convert and dual citizen of the U.S. and Italy, had been trying unsuccessfully for […]
Citizen recalls ‘humiliating’ post-9/11 arrest
LOS ANGELES — Handcuffed and marched through Washington’s Dulles International Airport in his Muslim clothing, the man with the long, dark beard could only imagine what people were thinking. That scene unfolded in March 2003, a year and a half after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. One of the four planes hijacked in 2001 took […]
Man pleads not guilty in Maryland bomb plot
A spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Baltimore says a man accused of plotting to kill military personnel with a car bomb has pleaded not guilty. Marcia Murphy says Antonio Martinez appeared in U.S. District Court for an arraignment Friday and pleaded innocent. The 21-year-old Martinez was caught in an FBI sting operation. Court […]
Baltimore man accused in bomb plot is due back in court
A Baltimore man accused of plotting to blow up a military recruitment center will be back in court. A detention hearing for Antonio Martinez is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Monday in U.S. District Court. Martinez is 21 years old and a recent convert to Islam, and court documents describe him as obsessed with jihad. He […]