Ali v. Quarterman, No. 14-41165 (5th Cir. 2016)
Annotate this CasePlaintiff, an observant Muslim in the custody of TDCJ, filed suit seeking permission to grow a "fist-length" beard and wear a kufi as required by his religious beliefs. Plaintiff alleged that TDCJ's grooming policy, as applied to him, violates the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), 42 U.S.C. 2000cc et seq. The district court granted declaratory and injunctive relief enabling petitioner to grow the beard and to wear the kufi throughout TDCJ's facilities. The Director appealed. The court concluded that TDCJ has not carried its burden under RLUIPA with respect to its denial of plaintiff’s request for a fist-length beard not to exceed four inches. The court also concluded that, based on the record, TDCJ has not carried its burden under RLUIPA with respect to its denial of plaintiff's request to wear his kufi throughout TDCJ facilities. In this case, TDCJ has failed to demonstrate that prohibiting the four-inch beard or the wearing of the kufi is the least restrictive means of furthering its compelling interest in preventing contraband, inmate identification, and cost control and prison operations. Accordingly, the court affirmed the judgment.
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