'Faith Behind Bars' to discuss denial of religious freedom in prisons
CMU senior Ku'Juana Quinn opens discussion for audience observation on presentation, Tuesday, Feb. 13, in the Sarah and Daniel Opperman Auditorium. (CM-Life | Auset Pope)
Among the various Arab American Heritage Months events happening at Central Michigan University this month, one of them will look through the prison bars at how Muslim Americans struggle with expressing themselves religiously while incarcerated.
“Faith Behind Bars: Challenging Denial of Religion Rights in Prison” is an interactive presentation event that will discuss how the criminal justice system plays a role in restricting religious freedom, especially of the Muslim faith.
The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17 in the Education and Human Services Building, Room 118.
Multicultural Academic Student Services approved the event, which will be hosted by students Ku’Juana Quinn and Mahum Hakim. Quinn is the president of Student Advocates for Prison Reform and the Incarcerated (SAPRI) and Hakim is vice president of the Muslim Student Association (MSA).
Quinn said they wanted to unite the interest of both organizations with this event, and in brainstorming they thought about the denial of religious freedoms in prisons, especially for those of the Muslim faith.
“We hope that individuals will walk away with more knowledge and respect for different faiths, religious ways of expression and those who are incarcerated,” she said.
Students can RSVP for the event through Engage, and admission is free.
