Monday, December 17, 2007

Prophylactic

So how do you prevent US prisons from becoming recruiting grounds for fundamentalistic terrorists? Why – you arrange for a systematic purge of all religious books and materials. Is it any wonder no-one has faith in the system anymore.
The system, the Standardized Chapel Library Project. grew out of the September 11 attacks and is a way to bar access to materials that could, in the words of the Office of the Inspector General in the Justice Department, “discriminate, disparage, advocate violence or radicalize.”
Not surprisingly some see it as a violation of their rights to the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the US’ First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and have started class actions. Perhaps another example of losing freedoms to ensure freedom?

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