2 Muslims settle lawsuits over church services in Ohio jail

CLEVELAND (AP) — Two Muslim women who said they were forced to attend Christian services at a county jail in Cleveland while being held there have settled federal lawsuits with county officials, according to settlement agreements released Wednesday.

The women, who served sentences for misdemeanor convictions, alleged in separate lawsuits that they were required to attend religious services led by a Baptist minister while they were housed in a trustee pod at the jail.

Abderrazzaq's attorney, Raymond Vasvari, said he hopes the county recognizes that conditions of an inmate's confinement can't be contingent on religious beliefs.