The U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Religious Freedom Of Prisoner

Supreme Court House Photo

Staying true to our nation’s ideals of religious freedom, the United States Supreme Court, the nation’s highest legal authority unanimously held  that a Muslim prisoner in Arkansas, Gregory Holt, is entitled to grow a beard for religious reasons.

Holt brought his claim under a federal law, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, which seeks to protect prisoners’ religious rights.  The Supreme Court held the Arkansas prison policy, which prohibits prisoners from keeping beards to be a violation of religious rights and rejected the state’s reasoning that the policy was needed for security reasons in order to prevent prisoners from concealing contraband.

Justice Alito noted that the state already searches clothing and hair and failed to provide a valid reason for why it could not search beards as well. In their arguments Holt’s lawyers had noted that more than 40 states and the federal government allow prison inmates to keep similar beards.  If your fundamental or civil rights are being violated please contact Bashian & Papantoniou to schedule your free consultation.

Categories: 
Related Posts
  • Nassau County District Attorney’s Office Bans Prosecutors From Applying For Gun Permits or Possessing a Weapon Read More
  • What to Expect When Appearing at a New York Deposition Read More
  • New Speed Cameras Added To Nassau County School Zones Read More
/