Gitmo detainees' lawyers invoke Hobby Lobby decision in court filing

[Judi Lynn]

Gitmo detainees' lawyers invoke Hobby Lobby decision in court filing

Attorneys say clients have religious rights afforded by same law cited by SCOTUS in controversial Hobby Lobby ruling

July 5, 2014 3:42PM ET

by Philip J. Victor - @philjvic

Lawyers for two Guantanamo Bay detainees have filed motions asking a U.S. court to block officials from preventing the inmates from taking part in communal prayers during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. The lawyers argue that – in light of the Supreme Court’s recent Hobby Lobby decision – the detainees’ rights are protected under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

The motions were filed this week with the Washington D.C. district court on behalf of Emad Hassan of Yemen and Ahmed Rabbani of Pakistan. U.K.-based human rights group Reprieve said both men asked for the intervention after military officials at the prison "prevented them from praying communally during Ramadan."

During Ramadan, a month of prayer and reflection that began last weekend, Muslims are required to fast every day from sunrise to sunset. But what is at issue in this case is the ability to perform extra prayers, called tarawih, "in which [Muslims] recite one-thirtieth of the Quran in consecutive segments throughout the month."

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Myles B. Caggins III, a spokesman for the Department of Defense, told Al Jazeera on Friday that the "Defense Department is aware of the filing," and that the "government will respond through the legal system."

The detainees' lawyers said courts have previously concluded that Guantanamo detainees do not have "religious free exercise rights" because they are not “persons within the scope of the RFRA.”

More:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/7/5/hobby-lobby-guantanamo.html

[GeorgeGist]

1. Silly prisoners ...

they're not corporations.

[wandy]

2. And its a good thing their not corporations. Think of the fine mess..........

our good christan supreme court would find themselves in if they had to recognize that other religions had rights.
Oh, I can hear the yammering about farmers founding christan nations at the very thought of it.

Coming right out and saying "they ain't corporate people" may not be the best way to sell this.

With any luck or for want of better weasel words they will get off by saying prisoners don't have rights.
That should work out just fine.
Right?