John Walker Lindh, 'American Taliban' Wants In On The ACLU Prison Prayer Lawsuit

Anyone who commits a crime and is incarcerated loses their rights. Period. They deserve no special privileges be they religious, moral or ethical. So if you're a vegetarian and you killed someone in a robbery, tough luck, you eat what you are given. You forfeit all rights when you choose to do something that is against the law. Of course, our prison system is rather cushy and they probably do get veggie meals, but they shouldn't, and people are accommodated in many other ways. Some Guantanamo detainees were given laptops, for goodness sakes.

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But sometimes, it's just not enough and some bozo runs crying to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) to file a lawsuit, which is what some Muslims did last year. They're apparently aggravated that they're not allowed group prayers as often as they'd like. It's not that they're not being allowed to pray, because they are. In fact, that's where many U.S. inmates convert to Islam, many of whom then become radicalized when they get out of jail. But praying in a group once a week isn't enough for these criminals who are being jailed in a high security prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. Approximately 30 out of 40 inmates in the restrictive Communications Management Unit are Muslims. This means their outside contacts are closely monitored. Most of the inmates in the unit have had some kind of extremist ties.

Arnaout, 46, is serving a 10-year sentence for racketeering after admitting in 2003 that he defrauded donors to his Benevolence International Foundation by diverting some of the money to Islamic military groups in Bosnia and Chechnya. The Syrian-born U.S. citizen is scheduled to be released in 2011.

Royer, 36, is serving 20 years for his participation in what prosecutors called a “Virginia jihad network.” The group used paintball games in 2000 and 2001 as military training in preparation for holy war against nations deemed hostile to Islam, prosecutors say. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, several members went to Pakistan to join the Taliban and fight U.S. troops.

It's also the same prison that John Walker Lindh, the American Taliban, is being held at. And now he too wants to be part of the lawsuit. Lindh, if you remember was captured serving in the Taliban army in 2001 and was sentenced to 20 years.

So, although these people are allowed to pray as often as they like in their cells, on their own, they are demanding daily group prayers. Well, boo hoo. If they hadn't been convicted of a crime in the first place, they could go pray at their local Mosque without any restrictions, however often they like, instead of being cooped up in a jail cell. They're lucky they're allowed to pray at all.

Prison isn't a camp, and if you choose to commit crimes then you have to be willing to do the time, with no special accommodations.