Travaile Speller deserves an award from the Hamas-linked Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). They’re skillful at claiming victim status for Muslims, but Speller has made claiming victimhood a high art.
“A Mecklenburg inmate signed up for Ramadan fast. Now he’s suing because he got hungry.” By Michael Gordon, Charlotte Observer, July 5, 2018 (thanks to Jack Posobiec):
During a holy month when he was supposed to be fasting, a Muslim inmate in the Mecklenburg County Jail still wanted his lunch.
So Travaile Speller has sued, claiming that his jailers and the Mecklenburg Sheriff’s Office discriminated against his religious practice by forcing him to eat only two meals each day during Ramadan.
“That is clearly depriving me of necessary calories, as well as the recommend(ed) daily volume of nutrients that my body requires to function normally,” Speller says in his hand-written complaint. “They are intentionally eliminating one whole meal (lunch) which is cruel and unusual punishment directed towards all Muslims.”
There’s just one problem: During Ramadan (which took place this year from May 15 to June 15), practicing Muslims are limited to two meals each day. Those are known as suhoor, which can be eaten before dawn, and iftar, which is served after sunset.
The daylight hours are off limits for food, drink and sex, a month-long ban that would appear to cover Speller’s lost lunches.
Inmate Travaile Speller, who says he is a Muslim, has sued the Mecklenburg County Jail for religious discrimination after he was blocked from receiving lunch during the holy month of Ramadan.
“They withheld his lunch during Ramadan? They were supposed to withhold it during Ramadan,” said Jibril Hough, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Charlotte and a member of Sheriff Erwin Carmichael’s faith advisory board.
“The jail was doing him a favor and actually respecting his faith.”
Both approved Ramadan meals were provided to any Mecklenburg inmate who registered in advance to observe the fast, according to the copy of the sign-up form included with Speller’s lawsuit. Speller added his name to the list on April 30, court documents show.
As written, the form serves as almost a step-by-step guide on how to adhere to the four weeks of fasting. Inmates would remain on the approved list of Ramadan observers as long as they accepted the suhoor meal, did not drink fluids or eat commissary items during the day, and did not join the lunch line, the sheriff’s office said….
Two weeks after the Ramadan fast ended, however, Speller filed his complaint. He says the loss of a month of midday meals violated the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
“My meals should not be diminished based on my religion, or because of my observance of my religious holiday,” he wrote….
Helping Muslim inmates abide by the rules of the holiday would have required some adjustments by the jail kitchen. Hough says the morning meal can be served as early as 4:30 a.m. while iftar would come well after the jail’s normal dinner schedule.
Islam traditionally has been a popular religion in prisons and jails. A 2016 New York Times article said 11 percent of the state’s prison population was Muslim. At the maximum-security Sing Sing Correctional Facility, 80 percent of the Muslim inmates had converted after entering prison, a prison Imam told the paper.
Jail records indicate Speller has been arrested at least 10 times over the last two years. He has been in custody since January, when he was charged with a series of burglary and larceny offenses….
For now, Speller appears fixed on more earthly rewards: His lawsuit calls for a jury trial, and $250,000 in damages.
Alexius Comnenus says
He does not have rights behind bars. If he wants rights, he should go to his ba-bas goats and camels land. He is just a freak who abuses the legal system of America and stupid lowers who defend this lunatic.
mortimer says
I heard of an ambulance-chaser, but I haven’t heard of a RAMADAN-chasing lawyer !
mortimer says
Jail-bird converts to Islam get extra time away from the general population and supposedly their food is superior.
The chapel is a lot more restful than the general population with its constant noise enough to drive anyone to nervous breakdown.
J D S says
Personally I believe the old “ball and chain” jail time deterred many from crime…I remember those times seeing groups of ball and chain prisoners on roads doing labor and during that time prisons and jails were not overcrowded…Today our prisons are just “rest homes” for law breakers also back in that time there were hardly any or maybe no “gangs” in prisons.
A lot of prisoners were in prison work camps, strictly run and prisoners were required to do road work……
The movie “Cool hand Like” kinda portrays prison work camp daily life…..Were individuals threaded harshly and their civil rights abused?…Sure they were…….They were in prison for breaking the law….Today there is no great dread in going to prison because of our new laws that cover civil rights.. Just wondering if potential prisoners knew there would be no free ride…then they might decide law breaking isn’t worth it.Same with public hangings.
Suebe Hatz says
These people are in jail for a reason, and they should by happy that we don’t force them to become something they don’t believe in. If a Christian was a prisoner in an Islamic country they would not be allowed to practice their religion or even read the Holy Bible. They force Christians to be Muslim or else. Take away their man inspired koran from them. I don’t feel bad for any of them
mortimer says
In the past, the Christian religion and Bible-reading were a normal part of ‘penitentiary’ to help the detainees repent and live a more religious and compassionate life.
gravenimage says
Many silly people believe that Islam is just the same–likely to deter criminality. Little do the dhimmis understand…
gerard says
Without actually seeing his complaint, I have to speculate what his issue is.
Was he short changed with the amount of food he should have received?
E.g. Was he given only two normal size meals?
Should he have received two meals with 1.5 amount of food per meal?
Peggy says
I would guess that he received two meals which would’ve filled him up.
He would still be hungry at lunchtime even if he had 2 full dinners or 2 full breakfasts. His stomach would digest it just the same and be ready for lunch.
Ashley says
Speller agreed to be served only his routine breakfast and dinner trays. He could have broken his Ramadan fast if he so chose to:
https://www.scribd.com/document/383500792/Ramadan-Sign-Up-Sheet
Ashley says
And here is Travaile’s handwritten complaint:
https://www.scribd.com/document/383500327/Speller-via-Mecklenburg-County-Jail#from_embed
John Leer says
I could never understand how eating two full meals a day is equal to fasting. Ramadan is nothing more than voluntarily not having lunch and a snack between breakfast and dinner for an entire month. I’m sorry to say this but that is just a mild inconvenience giving up lunch.
Just an observation – for whatever its worth
Ashley says
Oh, I totally agree, John. Pigging out before dawn and after dusk for a month is NOT fasting!
I rarely eat lunch as I have a very dull appetite. I do just fine with a morning smoothie and light evening supper.
Denying oneself water during the day is, frankly, stupid.
Arnold Jackson says
Just like everything else Muslims copy from other people, they can’t even get no eating right.
They probably just do it for another excuse for them to get upset and violent if they see a non-Muslim eating or drinking during daylight hours.
somehistory says
He wanted them to offer the lunch so he could then sue based on the jail not respecting his religion and trying to “tempt” him.
Or, he wanted the jail to insist that he eat lunch, so he could sue based on the jail staff not allowing him to practice his religion. But, oh boo hoo, they “forced him” to do without the food he said he was choosing not to eat. Getting on the list to let them know he was refusing to eat.
After the jail staff accommodated him, he saw his chances dwindle, but fool that he is, falls back on the “discriminating” whine. “Cruel and unusual” is regarding “punishment.” For this, he should look at his “faith”…his “religion.”
His case should not see the inside of a courtroom.
Ashley says
I doubt this case will see the inside of a courtroom. Speller signed up to skip lunch during Ramadan and his request was honored.
And this is precious: “They withheld his lunch during Ramadan? They were supposed to withhold it during Ramadan,” said Jibril Hough, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Charlotte…
Seems like a fellow Muslim is calling BS on Speller’s “hand written” complaint…
Halal Bacon says
hello poster boy for “your brain on shitslam”
Arnold Jackson says
I hope they don’t dismiss his lawsuit and convict him for malicious prosecution. That should keep him behind bars longer. I know that’ll take up more tax dollars but, there’s a greater chance of him dying in prison than out on the street.
Ashley says
Thanks for that “malicious prosecution” tidbit, Arnold.
I didn’t really know about that legal response to a baseless, frivolous lawsuit and just glossed it over.
I agree, Speller should move forward with his ridiculous complaint, present the evidence that clearly implicates himself as a liar, and face the music.
Good times!
Again…thank you!
Jayell says
So did he order a halal bacon sandwich?
Ashley says
Probably some hummus, falafel, and some airplane glue to sniff.
DHazard says
Finally, a TRUE Muslim. If you blame all your problems, even the ones you created, on someone else you are almost a real Muslim. It becomes official as soon as you hurt or kill a non-Muslim. Since this particular Muslim is in jail with other Muslims, he can’t practice his hatred using violence. The best he can do, as far as causing unnecessary trouble, is to use the Dhimmi legal system.
Rarely says
A number of years ago an inmate in California (not a muslim as far as I know) sued the prison system regularly — his most hilarious suit was for giving him smooth peanut butter instead of crunchy. Looks like our boy may be on track to win the crown.
Salome says
Is he complaining about not having lunch at lunchtime, or about not having the equivalent of lunch at the other two meals. And does this really mean that the prison authorities are simply omitting a meal and serving one earlier and one later, without making up for the lost content of the omitted meal. If that’s the case, then I say good on them!
ElderlyZionist says
Is that his booking photo? He looks like he was clubbed in the face.
Peace says
The Jail managers should use their brains, and serve up the lunch, but video it to Utube so he can’t eat it without other muslims knowing and wanting to kill him..
To avoid extra Kitchen expenses just serve yesterday’s breakfast.
If he chooses to eat the evening meal several hours later than everyone else, just dump him in the mess and he can sit there in front of it until the sun goes down..
As a child I remember sitting at the dinner table until I ate it or went hungry,
boocat says
That is a great idea. The prison has the right to do it, film him for security reasons.
gravenimage says
North Carolina: Muslim inmate fasted for Ramadan, now sues prison for $250,000 for denying him lunch
………………….
Lawfare.
Gerald Mucci says
I hope North Carolinians and its judges are aware enough and smart enough to demand that not one cent be awarded to this “clever” lunatic. It’s a pity we are forced to pay for ANY meal for this parasite.
David, Thailand says
If they gave him lunch, he could sue them for either ridiculing his faith or attempting to draw him away from it.
Time to set aside democratic politeness and timidity.
Vicky says
How dare these infidels deny this muslim savage even one crumb if or when he so desires it! And they had better prepare that crumb to islamic Halal cult standards, or taxpayers will be sorry! He knows corrupt American leaders twist the law to bow to his people at the expense of their own. Even unto death.
Giacomo Latta says
Why not send him to a jail above the Arctic circle the next time ramadan takes place in the summer? He won’t have much to complain about during the next one.
Hogdude says
How about a well-done pulled pork sandwich? And change for a ten dollar bill? May be too much money back.
Ric says
The Muslims thrive on victimhood; the actual victims are ignored not only by Muslims but the Western judiciary. If they, the state, concedes to this whining bag of you know, the citizens of North Carolina should let their anger be understood, by protesting and writing/calling their governor, and representatives. It will be a fruitless effort; however, 2020 is not far off.
Richard Courtemanche says
Hopefully, these spurious suits never go through. Ridicule!
John says
Bad guys incarcerated find a religion that supports their bad behavior. When they are released they can be soldiers of this new so called religion, continue to be bad, thinking they are pleasing Allah, who really is SATAN.
ed says
Doesn’t one lose their rights when they are convicted of a crime?