Muslim death row inmate battles to have an imam at his execution

An inmate on death row in the state of Alabama has been denied his request to have an imam present during his execution by prison officials.

Domineque Hakim Marcelle Ray, who converted to Islam after his arrest, is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on February 7, and had found himself in a race against time to fulfil his final wish.

Ray filed a stay of execution last month in order to continue his challenge against the presence of a Christian chaplain -who is ordinarily present at Alabama executions - during his final moments. 

His lawyers argued that this constitutes a violation of his right to freedom of religion.

Holman Prison Warden Cynthia Stewart denied the inmate the presence of an imam at his execution. Prison officials have agreed to prevent a Christian chaplain being in the death chamber during the execution process.

But the Alabama Department of Corrections told the Montgomery Advertiser that outside witnesses are not allowed within the execution chamber, and the prison chaplain, a correctional official, is present regardless of the inmate's religious beliefs.

Any outside witnesses, such as an imam, may visit the inmate beforehand and witness the execution from another room.