The ACLU of Arkansas has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Gregory Holt, also known as Abdul Maalik Muhammad, a renowned jailhouse litigator and devout Muslim, against Arkansas Division of Correction Director Dexter Payne. The lawsuit challenges Mr. Muhammad’s sudden and retaliatory transfer to a dangerous federal prison in West Virginia, alleging it was designed to derail his civil rights litigation and silence his legal advocacy on behalf of himself and others in prison.
Why This Case Matters
Access to the courts is a constitutional right — not a privilege reserved for the powerful. For over a decade, Mr. Muhammad has used the legal system to defend his rights and assist fellow prisoners, securing victories that have reshaped religious freedom protections for incarcerated people nationwide. By exiling him to a remote federal facility and cutting off his access to legal materials, counsel, and the courts, Arkansas prison officials are sending a chilling message to anyone behind bars who dares to demand justice.
Key Allegations
- Mr. Muhammad’s transfer was a direct act of retaliation for exercising his First Amendment right to pursue civil rights litigation and help others do the same.
- The transfer occurred shortly after confidential settlement talks failed — talks in which Mr. Muhammad explicitly rejected a federal transfer.
- Since being transferred, Mr. Muhammad has been held in solitary confinement, denied medical care, hygiene supplies, legal materials, and communication with his attorneys.
- Officials continue to move to dismiss his pending litigation as "moot," undermining years of legal work and active civil rights claims.
