Vegas
10-04-2007, 11:10 AM
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071004/D8S242UG0.html
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A federal appeals court has rejected an Alabama inmate's bid to build a fire in a pit at a state prison as part of his religious worship. Tony Lee Smith, 38, wanted to build a fire at St. Clair Correctional Facility to practice an ancient polytheistic Nordic religion called Odinism, according to his lawsuit.
On Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that prison officials did not violate Smith's religious rights by refusing his request. The prison had feared a backlash because the religion is said to incorporate white supremacist beliefs.
Smith's attorney, Henry "Hank" Sherrod III of Florence, said Smith had never been a white supremacist.
According to the suit, prison officials gave Smith a candle.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A federal appeals court has rejected an Alabama inmate's bid to build a fire in a pit at a state prison as part of his religious worship. Tony Lee Smith, 38, wanted to build a fire at St. Clair Correctional Facility to practice an ancient polytheistic Nordic religion called Odinism, according to his lawsuit.
On Tuesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that prison officials did not violate Smith's religious rights by refusing his request. The prison had feared a backlash because the religion is said to incorporate white supremacist beliefs.
Smith's attorney, Henry "Hank" Sherrod III of Florence, said Smith had never been a white supremacist.
According to the suit, prison officials gave Smith a candle.