9/11 law takes God, Allah, Yahweh from jails
June 11, 2007
NEW YORK -- Inmates at the federal prison camp in Otisville, N.Y., were stunned by what they saw at the chapel library on Memorial Day -- hundreds of books had disappeared.
The removal of the books is occurring nationwide, part of a long-delayed, post-Sept. 11 federal directive intended to prevent radical religious texts, specifically Islamic ones, from falling into the hands of violent inmates.
Three inmates at Otisville filed a lawsuit over the policy. They say all religions were affected.
Inmate John Okon said it was unfortunate because \'\'I have really seen religion turn around the life of some of these men.\'\' AP