ACLU Sues Federal Prison For Making American Taliban John Walker Lindh Wear Pants

23 May, 2014 by Duane Lester

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Wait, what?

A Muslim inmate filed a class action against the Federal Bureau of Prisons, claiming that Islam prohibits Muslim men from wearing pants below their ankles, but his prison prohibits him from hemming pants above the ankles.

Yahya “John” Lindh sued the directors of the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the warden of the Terre Haute federal pen, in Federal Court.

The lawsuit states: “Yahya Lindh is Muslim and it is a clear tenet of Islam that Muslim men are prohibited from wearing pants below their ankles. Despite this, it is a formal policy of the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons that ‘Islamic inmates may not hem or wear their pants above the ankle.’ This policy imposes a substantial, and unjustified, burden on the religious exercise of Mr. Lindh and all Muslim prisoners with the Federal Bureau of Prisons and violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.”

Lindh also objects to the strip-search policy imposed for visits. He seeks an injunction and costs. He is represented by Kenneth Falk, and by Gavin Rose with the ACLU, in Indianapolis.

When I worked in the criminal justice system, I had to deal with nonsense like this. : It’s prison Islam, not at all what you’d find in a Mosque in the free world.

For example, Islam Today writes:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at whoever dragged his garment out of pride.” Abû Bakr said to him: “O Messenger of Allah, my waistcloth slips down if I do not pay attention to it.” He said: “You are not one of those who do it out of pride.” [Related in full in: Sahîh al-Bukhârî: (5784) and partially in: Sahîh Muslim: (2085)]: 

I hold the view that the rulings against wearing clothes below the ankles (isbâl) does not apply to pants. The prohibition applies to articles of clothing like robes (thawb) and waistcloths (izâr) that go around both feet together, since it is these types of clothing that, by their nature, drag upon the ground.: 

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever: drags his garment: (jarra thawbahu) out of pride…”: 

Pants, by their nature, are not dragged upon the ground in this matter. Therefore, the very idea of: isbâl: is not applicable to pants.: 

Tell him to put on his pants and shut his mouth.

And tell the ACLU the same thing.

Hat Tip: : Weasel Zippers

See also: : Pakistani Man Who Beat Wife To Death Claims “It’s Just His Culture”