This scumbag is probably going to spend the rest of his life somewhere very secure. Probably locked up 23 hours per day. I don’t have any objection to that. But will they provide him with a pointer to Mecca? On the one hand he’ll need it so he can pray; on the other, would it not be considered cruel and unusual to have a permanent reminder of his crime?
Um, wouldn’t being in prison every day for the rest of his life be a “permanent reminder of his crime”?
Was this really supposed to be in the Pit? Because the rant, she is missing.
Yes, they will tell him in which direction to pray. He may also have a window, which might allow him to figure out the cardinal points of the compass.
How is a pointer to Mecca a “permanent reminder of his crime”?
At Guantanamo Bay each of the cells has a qibla, or indicator of the direction of Mecca, painted in it. (Sez here.) I don’t see why Moussaoui’s cell wouldn’t be similarly equipped.
And I concur with the apparently unanimous (except for the OP, of course) incomprehension about why a qibla would possibly be considered cruel or unusual punishment. If a fanatical extremist Christian terrorist blows up an abortion clinic and gets sent away for it, would it be cruel or unusual to allow him to have a Bible?
I suspect he’d have to ask for it, but if he does, I’m certain he’ll get it (as he should).
Quite. The command for Muslims to pray facing Mecca is a requirement for all Muslims, not just the extremist bastards.
The circumstances under which he will be held are well described in various places. It would appear that at least some accommodation will be made to enable him to practise his religion, but obviously, geographical information will be made nigh upon impossible for him to obtain.
If no pointer, even if its an arrow painted onto the wall, is provided, then its not really imposing some sort of horrible deprivation. As you might expect, what to do when you don’t know what direction Mecca is in has been considered in Islamic law, albeit under different circumstances.
He will reportedly not be allowed contact with Ramzi Yousef - that would be a reminder of his crime, and probably not a good one, either.
In general, if a Muslim doesn’t know which way Mecca is, and has no hope of knowing for sure, what next? Like, for example, if he or she is lost in wilderness and dying. Or jailed in a less accommodating country. Are they to abstain from prayer? Do they pray anyway, and it’s not a big deal?
I’m talking about the average Muslim here. Is there a commonly held belief in the Muslim community about this type of situation?
I see no reason not to let him know which direction is Mecca. Imprisonment is his punishment. To add other “features” would violate the cruel and unusual clause - specifically the unusual part.
You serious?
I doubt he’s kidding, and I think he’s probably right.
No, cruel and unusual would be to put a compass design in the floor that spins in a random direction and speed every night at midnight. Or to move him every night while he’s asleep to a random cell that looks exactly the same, but has the features pointing in a different direction.
No, that would be hilarious and unusual. Stopping him from practicing his religion would be cruel.
No, that would be hilarious and unusual. Stopping him from practicing his religion would be cruel.
No, that would be hilarious and unusual. Stopping him from practicing his religion would be cruel.
Sonofabitch!
Making him read the same post 3 times is cruel.
No, it’s a 1920’s style “death ray.”
No, three times was about right. That would be hilarious. 