On December 8, 2023, ECBAWM filed a lawsuit on behalf of Kamrul Chowdhury against NYPD Officers and the City of New York for denying him the ability to practice his religion for over 24 hours in police custody. The suit alleges that NYPD officers prevented him from praying by screaming at him and denying him basic accommodations. And, later, without medication to manage his diabetes, when Mr. Chowdhury asked for halal food to eat, the NYPD gave him nothing more than two slices of white bread.  Over and over again, despite Mr. Chowdhury’s repeated requests for basic accommodations, NYPD officers—for over 24 hours—denied Mr. Chowdhury the ability to practice the basic tenets of his religion.

ECBAWM attorneys O. Andrew Wilson and Sana Mayat represent Mr. Chowdhury, along with Lamya Agarwala and Burhan Carroll from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-New York.