Hundreds of Christian books are disappearing off the shelves of U.S. prisons under a federal directive intended to prevent violent inmates from receiving radical Islamic texts, prompting a lawsuit.
Instead of focusing on Muslim books, the directive restricts literature from all religions, the Associated Press reported. The post-9/11 order, which only now is being implemented, allows the prison libraries to stock only 100 to 150 books for each religion.
Three inmates at the federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., have filed suit, claiming violation of their constitutional rights.
Inmate John Okon told U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain the set of books removed from the prison were used to minister to new converts.
"I have really seen religion turn around the life of some of these men, especially in the Christian community," he said, according to the AP.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Feldman explained to the judge the rule limiting books was the result of a review by the Department of Justice in April 2004 of how prisons choose Muslims providers of religious services.
The reason for the delay is unclear, the AP reported, but prison officials said they needed time to look over a long list of books.
As WND reported, prisons have proven to be a fertile recruiting ground for al-Qaida, spawning the likes of shoebomber Richard Reid and alleged dirty bomber Jose Padilla.
Christian prison chaplains say Islam is so popular with inmates they are having a hard time competing with Muslim chaplains for their souls. Blacks are being converted by the cell block. The FBI worries blacks could be the next face of terror in America.
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