ACLU: Prison not allowing Muslim prayer

TERRE HAUTE, Ind., April 11 (UPI) -- The American Civil Liberties Union said a federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., is not following a court order allowing Muslim inmates to pray five times a day.

The ACLU filed a petition to hold the prison in contempt of court for not following a ruling made in January by U.S. District Judge Jane Magnus-Stinson, saying Muslims have the right to group prayers in prison.

The original case was brought by the ACLU on behalf of American-born Taliban fighter John Lindh.

Lindh, who was captured by U.S. forces in Afghanistan in 2001, pleaded guilty to a charge of assisting the Taliban by carrying explosives in the commission of a felony. He contended in his request for an injunction he and fellow Muslims had been allowed to pray daily as a group until 2007 when prison officials limited their gatherings to once a week.

The ACLU said since the January ruling, the prison has only been allowing Muslims to pray as a group three times a day, not five times, which is in accordance with their beliefs, Indiana Public Media reported.

"Our position is that the warden who is the defendant in this case, is in contempt," said ACLU Legal Director Ken Falk. "He is willfully violating the order of the court, so we are asking that the court issue appropriate release so that the judgment is complied with."

The court could impose fines or jail time if it finds Falk in contempt of the court order, Indiana Public Media said.