U.K.: Muslim prisoners get new clothes if cells are searched with dogs

THIS IS JUST FUCKING STUPID.

"Muslim inmates get new clothes if dog sniffs cell."

Muslim prisoners are being given fresh clothes and bedding after sniffer dogs search their cells – because they view the animals as unclean.
The inmates say their bedclothes and prison uniforms must be changed according to Islamic law if they have come anywhere near dog saliva.
Government rules mean warders are having to hand out replacement sets after random drug searches to avoid religious discrimination claims.
The dogs have also been banned from touching copies of the Islamic holy book the Koran and other religious items.
Prisoners are handed special bags to protect the articles.
Now some staff and other prisoners are incensed by what they claim is special treatment.
A source at Dover prison said: “It seems ridiculous that staff have to go out of their way to treat these prisoners differently.
“Some of the other inmates are not happy that they have to make do with the same old bedding.”
John Midgley, co-founder of the Campaign Against Political Correctness, added: “If people think others are getting different treatment, they are bound to be upset. Perhaps the only fair way to do this is to allow everyone to have their bedding changed.”
Philip Davies, Tory MP for Shipley in Yorkshire, said: “Another way for people not to have their cells searched for drugs is not to commit crime in the first place. If you commit a crime and go to prison, there are certain things which you expect to happen.”
The jail policy emerged after an illegal immigrant awaiting deportation at Dover prison asked its bosses to clarify the rules on sniffer dog searches.
In reply to the letter in prisoners’ magazine Inside Time, the Ministry of Justice’s Rosemary Hanna wrote: “We are aware that if dog saliva comes in contact with the clothing or religious artefacts of a Muslim, it renders these items defiled. As such, a prisoner must be allowed to change clothing if this occurs.”
She added: “Dogs used to search cells should not be allowed to touch holy books and artefacts.
The prisoner should be allowed to identify and remove religious artefacts from their cell so that the supporting staff can search them by hand before the cell is searched. It is also good practice to issue prisoners with a clear plastic pouch to cover holy books and artefacts.
“Also, bedding should be changed where the prisoner feels that it has been defiled.”
A leading imam, Ibrahim Mogra, said the policy was “very sensitive and sensible”.
He said: “We would expect the religious requirements and needs of all our diverse religious communities to be accommodated.”
Just like Sharia law doesn't.
The row comes after some Muslims argued they should not be touched by sniffer dogs trained to spot terrorists at railway stations.
Last month it was revealed that the Association of Chief Police Officers proposed that police dogs wear bootees on their paws when searching Muslim suspects’ homes.

Islamic scholars denounce dancing, say it violates sharia

Salsa festival in Morocco stirs controversy. "Islamic scholars say dance violates sharia," by Hassan al-Ashraffor Al-Arabiya.
Marrakesh will host its first international salsa festival amid controversy as officials and religious leaders expressed dismay over the city’s hosting of a festival devoted to the sexy Latin dance.
The festival, which runs Oct. 8-12, features 100 dancers from Cuba, Mexico, Los Angeles, New York, Oslo, Milan, including Francisco Vasquez and Alex da Silva, choreographers for Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. The contestants will also give salsa classes to students of Moroccan universities.
But some locals voiced objections that the dance is un-Islamic and violates local social norms.
One Islamic scholar said the salsa festival violates sharia Islamic law. Mohamed Al-Taweel, pprofessor of jurisprudence at the University of al-Karaouine said that the festival is sinful for a number if reasons, no the least of which is the mingling between men and women.
Moroccan sheikh Abdul-Bari al-Zamzami, a member of the Moroccan Scholars Association, told AlArabiya.net that the festival promotes vice among the youth, who are easily deceived by such Western activities.
Other officials disagreed, however, noting that the festival promotes intercultural understanding and artistic expression.
"I do not think that the salsa festival has a negative impact on Morocco,” Nabil Benabdallah, a former minister of communication, told AlArabiya.net.
But Islamic preacher Mohamed al-Amrawi argued that activities which violate decency and promote vice among youth are prohibited by law.
"Moroccan youth should be trained in different scientific and creative fields,” he told AlArabiya.net
Besides promoting vice, Taweel said he also thinks the festival is an unnecessary waste of money, thrown away just to give the West the impression that Morocco is a liberal, accommodating country.
(Translated from Arabic by Sonia Farid)