Transgender Muslim Inmate Serving 55-Year Sentence Files $150K Lawsuit Over Hijab Dispute in Prison
A transgender inmate serving a lengthy sentence for a heinous crime has sparked controversy by filing a civil lawsuit against a prison chaplain over a hijab dispute within the correctional facility.
Autumn Cordellionè, also known as Jonathan C. Richardson, is seeking $150,000 in damages for allegedly being prohibited from wearing a hijab outside her designated area at Branchville Correctional Facility in Indiana.
Jonathan C. Richardson is a transgender inmate who strangled his/her daughter to death. (Indiana Department of Corrections)
According to court documents, Cordellionè claimed that the prison chaplain restricted her from wearing the hijab beyond her immediate bed quarters, citing religious reasons. Despite identifying as a Muslim transwoman, Cordellionè faced pushback from the chaplain, who noted her listed religious preference as "Wiccan" and questioned her eclectic spiritual practices.
Cordellionè argued that the chaplain's actions violated her Eighth Amendment rights and exposed her to harassment from other Muslim prisoners, emphasizing the societal significance of wearing a hijab for Islamic women.
Indiana Department of Corrections declined to discuss the pending litigation, and the chaplain could not be reached for a response. This lawsuit comes on the heels of Cordellionè's previous legal battle against the department for denying her request for sex reassignment surgery, with the ACLU representing her in that case.
Despite an Indiana law prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for inmates' gender-affirming surgeries, the ACLU contends that denying Cordellionè this procedure constitutes cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment.
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Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita's office denounced the ACLU's efforts, affirming the commitment to upholding justice for victims and ensuring that convicted individuals face consequences for their actions.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the case of Autumn Cordellionè sheds light on the laps of gender identity and religious freedom in the law – especially among the incarcerated within the justice system. There needs to be clarity in the law.
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