Three former New Mexico State University football players--all Muslims--have sued the university and coach Hal Mumme, alleging they were dismissed from the team because of their religious beliefs. The federal lawsuit was filed this week by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of Mu'Ammar Ali and brothers Anthony and Vincent Thompson. The lawsuit alleges religious discrimination and violations of the athletes' right to freely exercise their religion.
The suit said Mumme had players recite the Lord's Prayer after each practice and before each game. Ali and the Thompsons said that practice made them feel like outcasts and caused them to pray separately from the other players. The suit says the Thompsons were dismissed from the team last September, allegedly because they moved their belongings to an unapproved locker and were labeled "troublemakers."
The ACLU had filed a grievance against Mumme last year, alleging he repeatedly questioned Ali about Al Qaeda. In response, New Mexico State hired an Albuquerque law firm to investigate, and the law firm concluded the football program had not engaged in religious discrimination against the three Muslim athletes. Mumme said at a news conference in November that he apologized to his team for any unintentional actions on his part that may have offended anyone. |