Muslim prisoners sue for millions over ham sandwiches

Ramadan prison menu

A prison menu offering ham sandwiches has prompted a multi-million-dollar lawsuit by Muslim inmates who claim their human rights were violated.

Officials at the high security prison in Leeds, England, denied they gave any of their 200 Muslim prisoners ham sandwiches. But they admitted a mistake in the special menus printed during the Islamic Ramadan holiday, the London Daily Mail reported.

Islam forbids eating any products from pigs.

The Muslim prisoners complained after discovering ham sandwiches were one of three options on the menu. Prison officers on duty explained the menus had been printed in error.

Some inmates, however, claim that when they ordered cheese sandwiches they found boiled ham between the bread slices, the London paper reported.

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One inmate, 28, said some inmates were so hungry they ended up eating the ham sandwiches.

He's among the prisoners who could get up to $20 million in the legal action.

"It was a breach of my human rights and I want compensation," he said.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice stated: "An inappropriate menu card was printed during Ramadan. This mistake was rectified immediately. Appropriate menu options for the Iftaar evening meal were available throughout Ramadan. Prison Service guidelines state that prisoners must have a diet which meets the requirements of their religion."

Separately, 16 Muslim inmates at Leeds Prison also are preparing a legal case on claims of mistreatment, including being given food that was not "halal," or prepared according to Islamic requirements.

Last year, the Daily Mail noted, the UK's Prison Service was forced to apologize to Muslim inmates at a prison in Worcestershire where a kitchen worker was seen tossing canned ham into halal curries.

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