ACLU defends Muslim prison prayer
Charlie Butts and Marty Cooper - OneNewsNow - 6/29/2009 5:40:00 AM
The Associated Press reports prison inmates in Terre Haute are allowed to pray as a group for one hour a week on Fridays. However, their religion commands them to pray corporately five times a day. The ACLU contends the government and prison system is restricting religious activities for no reason.
Ken Falk, Indiana's ACLU legal director, finds it ironic that prisoners are allowed out of their cells to watch television, play cards, and engage in other group activities, yet their worship time is restricted. A local Islamic leader said Muhammad, Islam's prophet, gives greater rewards to his followers who pray in congregation rather than praying individually.
Mat Staver of Liberty Counsel disagrees with the ACLU'S stance.
"The lawsuit, however, in this particular case says that they are allowed to pray as a group only just one hour a week. The fact is that there is no constitutional right to assembly as a group five times a day, whether it's in the workplace or in the prison," he notes.
Staver points out that Liberty Counsel completely supports religious liberty, regardless of a person's faith group. "But I think in the situation with regards to the Muslims, there is clearly a security issue at risk here when you are requesting the prisons to accommodate five daily group meetings to have prayer," he contends.
The Liberty Counsel attorney believes if a similar request had come from Christians, the ACLU would not have even considered handling the case.
