Opinion ID: 517715
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: facts

Text: 14 Taking the allegations in Diaab's complaint as true, 1 Diaab is a member of the Nation of Islam, which observes Ramadan during the month of December. During Ramadan, all Muslims must fast between sunrise and sunset. Upon his arrival at Wayne Correctional Institution (WCI) in Odum, Georgia, Diaab was informed by Counselor Jack Jones that the Department of Offender Rehabilitation (apparently a department of the State of Georgia) makes provision to serve meals to Muslims before sunrise and after sunset only during June, which is when the World Community of Islam observes Ramadan. Diaab's requests to Deputy Warden Bishop and Warden Calvin Green that arrangements for December observance of Ramadan be made were denied, and Diaab was unable to eat after sundown during Ramadan in December, 1983. 15 For Ramadan in 1984, Diaab persuaded two prison officers to provide him with food after sunset beginning on December 1. Warden Green learned of these arrangements and ordered the provisions ceased on December 9, 1984. On December 14, 1984, Diaab was transferred to Rivers Correctional Institution (RCI) in Hardwick, Georgia. 16 Diaab filed his pro se complaint on February 1, 1985. He named Warden Green as defendant and charged (1) that his right to practice his religion had been infringed, (2) that he had not been allowed as much religious freedom and accommodation as had other similarly situated inmates and (3) that he had been transferred to RCI in retaliation for his efforts to persuade WCI officials to accommodate his religious practices and to pursue a grievance arising from a prison employee's alleged reckless handling of a loaded gun. He requested declaratory and injunctive relief and damages. 17 On March 8, 1985, the district court dismissed Diaab's complaint with prejudice before it had been served on Green. The court reasoned that Diaab's request for injunctive relief was rendered moot by his transfer to RCI. It further held that any damages claim that remained alive was due to be dismissed for failure to state a legally cognizable claim. The latter holding relied on precedent binding in this circuit which held that federal prison officials' refusal to accommodate Muslim inmates' dietary needs at Ramadan was justified by the officials' substantial and compelling interests and therefore did not impermissibly infringe the inmates' First Amendment rights. Elam v. Henderson, 472 F.2d 582 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 414 U.S. 868, 94 S.Ct. 177, 38 L.Ed.2d 117 (1973); Walker v. Blackwell, 411 F.2d 23 (5th Cir.1969). The district court did not mention Diaab's retaliation and equal protection claims. Diaab appeals from the district court's order.II. ISSUES 18 Liberally construing Diaab's pro se brief on appeal, 2 we understand Diaab to argue that the district court erred in dismissing his First Amendment claim without considering whether Warden Green had a substantial interest in refusing to accommodate his need to refrain from eating until after sundown during Ramadan. He also charges error in the district court's failure to address his retaliation and equal protection claims. We agree that the district court too hastily dismissed Diaab's claims. We therefore reverse the district court's dismissal with prejudice and remand for service on the defendant and further proceedings to determine whether Diaab is entitled to relief.