“Kahn claims that he was deemed such a threat because jailers believe the Quran is a violent book and because Kahn had used religious expressions that ‘alarmed’ jail staff. He wrote that his first amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion are being violated.”
The Qur’an is is a violent book, calling on Muslims to “kill them wherever you find them” (2:191, 4:89, 9:5), “strike the necks” of the unbelievers (47:4), beat disobedient women (4:34), etc. And if Khan had “alarmed” jail staff with his “religious expressions,” they are only prudent to take precautions. “His first amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion are being violated”? At some point, sooner or later, Americans are going to have to decide whether one’s “first amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion” are licenses to break other existing laws.
“Casper doctor alleges jail is violating his religious rights,” by Shane Sanderson, Casper Star-Tribune, October 20, 2017:
A former Casper doctor who is being held in a Nebraska jail on drug conspiracy charges has submitted a handwritten court filing alleging jailers are violating his constitutional right to practice his religion.
In federal court documents filed earlier this month, Shakeel A. Kahn claims that he was placed and remains in solitary confinement for practicing Islam. Kahn asked the federal judge presiding over the case to order jail staff “to cease their religious persecution and restore all rights and freedoms to all Muslims.”
Kahn is being held at the Scotts Bluff County Detention Center in Gering, Nebraska.
The prosecution has not yet filed a response to Kahn’s claims relating to his right to practice his religion. Jail director Joseph Gaul declined to comment Friday. He said he may have more information on Monday.
Kahn also filed two additional documents on the same day. One asks to have more freedom to contact his wife, Lyn Kahn, who is also a defendant in the case. The second asks for dismissal of one of the 23 charges he faces in the case.
The prosecution filed responses this week asking that those two requests be denied.
In his complaint on religious grounds, Kahn also claims that his requests for Halal meals were ignored for three weeks, during which he subsisted on bread and water alone. He wrote that he lost 13 pounds during that time period and wrote that “such treatment smacks of torture.”
Kahn wrote that he has been in solitary confinement since July 24. He attached paperwork signed by the jail director that indicates Kahn was placed in solitary confinement as the result of a “safety and security threat.”
Kahn claims that he was deemed such a threat because jailers believe the Quran is a violent book and because Kahn had used religious expressions that “alarmed” jail staff. He wrote that his first amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion are being violated.
Kahn also wrote that he has recently been disallowed from showering before his evening prayer, which he says is required to practice his faith. He argued the lack of access to evening showers is a show of “pure hate.”…