Free Republic

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday ruled in favor of a Muslim prison inmate who challenged a regulation that prevented him from growing a beard. The nine justices, on a 9-0 vote, said that the prison policy violated the religious rights of inmate Gregory Holt, who wants to grow a half-inch (1.3 cm) beard in accordance with his Muslim beliefs. The court rejected the state's reasoning that the policy was needed for security reasons. Justice Samuel Alito, writing on behalf of the court, said the state already searches clothing and hair and had not given a valid reason why...

A Prison Service report has expressed concern about problems with the high number of Muslim inmates at one of Britain's high-security jails. A review of Whitemoor Prison in Cambridgeshire found staff were fearful of doing the wrong thing, "shifting the power dynamic towards prisoners". The Howard League for Penal Reform said the report was "extremely disturbing". The Prison Service says it will examine how to manage gangs and terrorist prisoners at the jail. The report, written by the Prison Service's Directorate of High Security, was obtained by the Howard League under the Freedom of Information Act. It found staff at...