LEBANON, Ind. — A Muslim inmate is using Indiana’s religious freedom statute in part to sue a central Indiana sheriff for denying him a diet that follows Islamic dietary laws.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana filed the federal lawsuit on behalf of Gannon Thomas against the Boone County Sheriff’s Office over its refusal to serve him a halal diet.

It accuses the Boone County Jail of violating Thomas’s First Amendment rights and his rights under Indiana’s contentious Religious Freedom and Restoration Act signed by Gov. Mike Pence last year. 

The religious freedom law states government entities cannot pose a substantial burden to a person’s exercise of religion.

Thomas, 27, of Indianapolis is a practicing Muslim and has objected to being served pork and other meat that was not slaughtered according to Islamic laws, the lawsuit said. 

He was arrested June 21 on burglary and probation violation charges, but the lawsuit said he objected to the food during previous incarcerations “on a number of occasions since 2010,” the complaint said.

After being served pork during his current incarceration he complained and filed a grievance, the lawsuit said.

The jail commander told him “the only special diets provided were medical diets, and diets based on choice, ‘such as vegan, vegetarian, or religion,’ were not provided,” the lawsuit said.

“He continues to be served pork and other meat that he believes is not halal,” it said.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction against the jail, as well as unspecified damages.