'Johnny Jihad' Hasn't a Prayer

‘Johnny Jihad’ Hasn’t a Prayer

Commentary by Sanford D. Horn
August 30, 2012

In the case of federal prisoner John Walker Lindh demanding his rights to pray five times daily in a group setting, as per his claim of Muslim law, there is a simple solution: do not take up arms against your American brothers and sisters as a terrorist and traitor.

Lindh, a.k.a. the American Taliban, 31, converted to Islam at age 16 while still living with his Catholic parents in California as a result of his seeing the film Malcolm X. Ultimately, Lindh joined the Taliban in Afghanistan, met Osama Bin Laden, and was captured by American troops, charged with supporting terrorists and conspiring to kill Americans. (The Indianapolis Star, August 28)

Lindh is serving a 20-year sentence on lesser charges in the Corrections Management Unit in Terre Haute, IN, when quite frankly, no negotiation should have been granted and for committing treason, Lindh should have been sentenced to life in front of a firing squad. Period – end of story.

On the one hand he calls the prison rules prohibiting group prayer “unjust,” yet on the other hand, testified that “I don’t recognize any law but the Sharia of Islam.” This demonstrates his extremist attitude in support of the radical views taken by Islam that calls for the deaths of infidels (Jews and Christians), the deaths of homosexuals, as well as the deaths of women who commit adultery.

While claiming it is an Islamic requirement to pray in groups, five times a day, Lindh conveniently omitted the words “if possible.”

The words “if possible” are paramount when discussing Islamic prayer, said Imam Ammar Amonette from the Islamic Center of Virginia. Islam merely encourages prayer in group settings, he said, adding that “it is perfectly acceptable to G-d if they pray alone when gatherings are not possible.” (The Indianapolis Star, August 29)

Additionally, Lindh violated Bureau of Prison rules in February by delivering a radical Islamic sermon in Arabic. Inmates are required to speak English, with the exception of ritual prayers. This is for safety and security reasons that the prison guards be able to understand the convicts.

Clearly, Lindh is neither remorseful nor willing to comport himself according to the rules of the prison system and should never have been given any deal reducing his sentence. Nor has his freedom of religion been subjugated, regardless of what Kenneth Falk, legal director of the Indiana ACLU and Lindh’s attorney says. Falk averred that during non-prayer times inmates are allowed to associate in groups without security concerns.

Prayer is a deeply, fervently spiritual experience which drives a person’s thought processes in ways other activities do not. A group prayer setting gives people an inner strength and inspiration to perhaps act in ways not normally considered when either alone or doing non-religiously driven activities.

Another Lindh complaint is that when praying in his cell he must kneel to close to the toilet. Hey, listen up, Johnny Jihad, you are in prison, not the Ritz Carlton. You maintain the Constitutional right you sought and still seek to deprive your own countrymen.

Not happy with your accommodations? You should have thought about that before taking up arms against the country of your birth, the country that gave you freedoms to make better choices, and the country that treats you better incarcerated than the countries you support treat their own “free” people.

Sanford D. Horn is a writer and educator living in Westfield, IN.