Court Revives Muslim Inmate’s Lawsuit Over Beard

Washington Post ^ | May 11, 2012 | David Sherfinsk

[Steelfish]

Court Revives Muslim Inmate’s Lawsuit Over Beard By David Sherfinski May 11, 2012

A federal appeals panel has reversed a lower court’s ruling that a Sunni Muslim incarcerated in a Virginia prison could not grow a beard as dictated by his religion because it runs counter to the state Department of Corrections’ grooming policy.

William R. Couch, an inmate at the Augusta Correctional Center in Craigsville, requested in December 2009 to grow a one-eighth-inch beard to comply with his religious requirements, pointing out that the prison accomodated medically exempt inmates who can grow four-inch beards. Those inmates can get a “No Shave Pass” from a prison’s medical authority based on a condition aggravated by shaving.

Mr. Couch was repeatedly denied, however, and subsequently filed a civil action. The district court, however, ruled in favor of the prison officials.

According to the opinion issued Friday by the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Couch had testified that the primary texts of Islam “command” that he grow a beard “and that the refusal to maintain a beard is a sin comparable in severity to eating pork.”

John M. Jabe, Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of Corrections, countered that the policy barring long hair and beards is in place for legitimate safety and health reasons.

[matt04]

I wonder what got him in the big house to begin with?

[ColdOne]

tick, tick, tick ever creeping Sharia Law in this country.

[Talisker]

According to the opinion issued Friday by the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Couch had testified that the primary texts of Islam “command” that he grow a beard “and that the refusal to maintain a beard is a sin comparable in severity to eating pork.”

I would absolutely freaking love to be the US Attorney in this case. I would point out to the court that what this man means by "sin" DOES NOT include keeping women as slaves and murdering them if they try to escape.

And then I would move for the dismissal of his suit based on the concept that Islam is NOT a "religion" referenced by the 1st Amendment.

[Beagle8U]

” Couch had testified that the primary texts of Islam “command” that he grow a beard “and that the refusal to maintain a beard is a sin comparable in severity to eating pork.”

Shave his entire body and put him on diet pork-n-beans, minus the beans, until he gets ‘his mind right’.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Muzzies only shave their body as a warm-up ritual to doing jihad.

[Jack Hydrazine]

[Popman]

I wonder how the orthodox Jews in prison think about this ? /S