Raw Story:
The US Department of Justice has implemented a secretive new prison program segregating "high-security-risk" Muslim and Middle Eastern prisoners, tightly restricting their communications with the outside world in apparent violation of federal law, according to documents obtained by RAW STORY.
Quietly implemented in December, the special "Communications Management Unit" (CMU) at a federal penitentiary in Indiana targeting Muslim and Middle-Eastern inmates was not implemented through the process required by federal law, which stipulates the public be notified of any new changes to prison programs and be given opportunity to voice objection. Instead, the program appears to have been ordered and implemented by a senior official at the Department of Justice.
In April of last year, the US Federal Bureau of Prisons -- part of the US Department of Justice -- proposed a set of strict new regulations and as required, there was a period of public comment. Human rights and civil liberties groups voiced strong concerns about the constitutionality of the proposed program.
The program was dropped after groups like the ACLU pointed out that it wasn't aimed at suspected terrorists alone, but also "witnesses, detainees, or otherwise" -- i.e., pretty much anyone who's muslim or middle eastern. And now, here it is again, going forward illegally and without public input.
Remember when everyone used to ask, "Why do they hate us?" Notice how no one asks that anymore? It's become a stupid question.
Tags: news | politics | prisons | law | Bush | Islam | religion | humanrights | civilrights | racism | hate | profiling
