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Editor's note: This is a third-party editorial that does not necessarily reflect the viewpoint of Correctionsone.com.
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Chattanooga Times Free Press Two Muslim inmates in an Indiana prison have sued in federal court over supposedly discriminatory limits on their religious practice. They complain that they are supposed to pray five times a day but that the prison lets the inmates congregate for prayer only one hour per week. An Islamic group told The Associated Press that Muslims gain greater spiritual rewards for praying in a group than for praying alone. But breaking the law has consequences, and the inmates broke the law. One admitted he had diverted money meant for a charity to Islamic militants. The other took part in a jihad network in Virginia to train for holy war. So they have justly received prison sentences. And one consequence of a prison sentence can be reasonable limits that prevent a person from practicing his faith as conveniently as he might like. Lawbreakers should not be able to force on guards the cumbersome, possibly dangerous task of shuffling inmates in and out of their cells at all hours for congregational prayer. If restrictions on when they may gather are troubling to the inmates, they might have thought of that before they broke the law. Copyright 2009 Chattanooga Publishing Company |
