On March 14, the first day Owens received both pre-dawn and sunset meals, he was able to break his fast at 7:43 p.m. but he did not receive his meal until "well after 9:30 p.m.," according to the lawsuit. This meant he was fasting longer than he needed to be, and longer than the time permissible under mainstream Islamic teachings, according to the lawsuit.

"Mainstream Islamic teachings prohibit a Muslim from extending their fast beyond the moment of sunset, and require that an adherent Muslim hasten to break their fast during Ramadan," according to the lawsuit.

Owens also has been served inedible and inappropriate food, including food that was left out, unwrapped and unprotected for some time, food mixed with apple juice or apple sauce. In one case, the food was so degraded that a deputy told Owens he shouldn't eat it and tried to replace it with something else, but was unable to do so.

"Jackson County Jail has a policy for accommodating fasting Muslims, however, are lapse in their application of the policy which resulted in Mr. Owens not receiving food on days he was fasting, obtaining his evening meal late causing him to fast longer than necessary and permissible under mainstream Islamic theology, and providing less food than is necessary nutritionally," according to the lawsuit.

"The diet provided by Jackson County Jail is a starvation diet imposed on Mr. Owens, and it is imposed upon him because he takes his religion seriously and adheres to mainstream Islamic teachings about Ramadan that instructs him and other Muslims to refrain from eating and drinking between dawn and sunset during this month-long religious obligation."

Dawud Walid, executive director of the Michigan CAIR group, said the sheriff's office and the private canteen service they contract with to provide religious accommodations to Muslims are not following the law and are not providing adequate accommodations to fasting Muslims.

“Despite their claims that they take the religious rights and physical health of fasting Muslims seriously, their unwillingness to meet, and their finger pointing prove otherwise," Walid said in a statement. "Jackson County Sheriff’s Office must immediately act to ensure that Mr. Owens, and other Muslims in their custody, are provided with healthy and sufficient meals at the beginning and end of their fast.”

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