Salt Lake City, USA - Two Salt Lake County Islamic food markets are suing the United States government for temporarily or permanently removing their eligibility to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food stamp program, court documents state. Lawsuits filed Tuesday in the 3rd District Court both ask the court to stay government penalties pending a court trial.
A lawsuit from the Zabiha Market in Salt Lake City states their permanent disqualification from the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, was not appropriate for violations allegedly observed by Field Office officials of the U.S.D.A during an on-sight investigation of the markets in August 2010.
After the investigation, the U.S.D.A alleged the Zabiha market, a supplier of foods specific to the Islamic Faith, was guilty of trafficking by issuing $10 in cash for $10 in SNAP benefits. The lawsuit disputes Zabiha was guilty of a trafficking violation and that if it was, a permanent ban from SNAP is too severe.
If the right to use SNAP is not reinstated, the lawsuit argues the business would fail and that members of the Islamic community, who rely on SNAP, would not be able to purchase food items important to their faith.
The Halal Market in West Valley City, also a supplier of Islamic foods, was disqualified from SNAP for six months after the Field Office found that employees of Halal allowed SNAPP benefits for ineligible merchandise on four occasions.
The Halal lawsuit also argues the penalty was too harsh and is requesting to be immediately reinstated into SNAP.