John Walker Lindh seeks right to daily group prayer in Indiana court
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August 29, 2012
Indianapolis, Indiana: American Taliban fighter John Walker Lindh, who is housed in a maximum security federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, is seeking the right to daily group prayer in federal court. Arguments began yesterday in the federal court in Indianapolis.[1][2][3]
Lindh and other inmates are currently afforded the opportunity to pray in a group once weekly, but Lindh is battling for daily group prayer.[1] Prison officials argue that any time there is group activity, there are increased security concerns. They also note that their once weekly group prayer allowance is following federal guidelines.[1] Today, Imam Ammar Amonette, head of the Islamic Center of Virginia, testified for the government, stating that daily group prayer was not required by the type of Islam practiced by Lindh. The Imam noted that daily prayer was preferred, but prisoners are exempted from group prayer requirements.[1]
One of the arguments made by Lindh's attorney Ken Falk seems to be that other group encounters are allowed more frequently than once per week, and prayer is being improperly prohibited in these circumstances.[1] Arguments are expected to continue for two more days (August 30 and 31).
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Indiana Public Media, "Day Two Of Lindh Case Defends Treatment Of Muslims In Prison," August 29, 2012
- ↑ NBC News, "'American Taliban' John Walker Lindh testifies for right to group prayer in prison," August 28, 2012
- ↑ The Seattle Times, "Official: Lindh, other Muslim inmates are defiant," August 29, 2012
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