SCOTUS Rules That Muslims Can Grow Beards in Prison
The Supreme Court today ruled unanimously that Muslim inmates will not be required to shave their beards for security purposes, arguing that forcing them to do so would be a violation of religious liberties.
The case, Holt v. Hobbs, was brought to the Court by Gregory Holt, whose request to maintain his beard was rejected by Arkansas prison officials. While Holt said that he would keep his beard to a half-inch in length (Islam forbids men from trimming their beards, so this is a pretty good compromise), the state argued that Holt could possibly 1) alter his appearance by shaving and possibly escape, or 2) hide “contraband” in his beard, like, who knows, a gun. Holt then brought his case to the Court, arguing that his religious freedoms were being violated.
In the opinion written by Samuel Alito, the Court ruled that the state wasn’t able to prove why having a half-inch beard could be a compelling security threat that would necessitate the suspension of religious freedom. “Although we do not question the importance of the Department’s interests in stopping the flow of contraband and facilitating prisoner identification, we do doubt whether the prohibition against petitioner’s beard furthers its compelling interest about contraband,” he wrote. “And we conclude that the Department has failed to show that its policy is the least restrictive means of furthering its compelling interests.”
Holt v. Hobbs also happens to be the case John Oliver highlighted in his legendary all-dog Supreme Court footage, if the above Supreme Court written analysis did nothing for you:
In any case, Holt must still serve a life sentence for stabbing his ex-girlfriend in the chest and neck after breaking into her house, but now he gets to do it with a beard.
[h/t The Hill]
[Image via Shutterstock]
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