Prison bosses have been instructed to let pagan inmates keep twigs in their cells...to use as wands. Officers have been told to allow prisoners to collect and decorate the twigs which they need for their rituals. It is the latest in a series of rulings to protect convicts' rights and ensure equality among different faiths. Followers of other faiths are allowed items such as a prayer mat to allow them to worship. The policy regarding pagans was announced by Justice Reform Minister Maria Eagle in a parliamentary answer. She said: "Prison service policy is to enable prisoners of different faith traditions, including paganism, to practise their religion. "Religious artefacts are allowed for relevant faiths within the constraints of good order and discipline. The religious artefacts for pagan prisoners include a flexible twig for a wand." Tory prisons spokesman Edward Garnier said: "This sounds like an April Fool's Day joke.

But there's genuine concern prisoners are taking the system for a ride." Conservative MP Andrew Turner, who uncovered the new ruling, added: "This strikes me as bizarre. A lot of people would be worried about equating paganism with Christianity.".

View: Full Article | Source: Daily Mail

May as well allow Sikh prisoners to carry their ceremonial blades while they are at it.

haha thats one of the funnier things I heard today

Well... as long as the Christians can have their bread and wine...

Weee a new stabby tool!!!

(and before anybody starts with the "you can't make a stabby tool out of a flexible twig" know this, I've seen a miniature zipgun/shotty that an inmate in a maximum security prison built)

What a joke.

I agree. This does seem like some kind of bad joke.

Why is this regarded as a joke? Let the pagans have their wands!

(provided they don't use them to jinx their way out)

What they use the wand for? I wonder

Every religion is in-built with the phrase 'we are right, everyone else is wrong', it is a religion and therefore the member should have equal rights to practice it.

Haha, whatever you do, don't drop the soap while wondering.

maybe they'll rub the stciks together, make a fire, and burn their way to freedom

an abuse of prisoners rights

Peganism is just as valid as Christainity, Islam, Jedism, Judism, Hinduism, Silkism, Scientology, Budhism and all the other religious out there.

Good post. You have just illustrated the fatal and innate core problem with the relativist ideal.

Not all concepts, nor ideals in any sense are equal. To believe so, illustrates a fatal flaw in one’s judgement.