Wearing tzitzis and tefillin is not permitted because it provokes other inmates, a prison official told an Israeli prisoner who is being held inside Silverwater Correctional Centre, Australian Jewish News reports.
Dror Salah, who is facing murder charges next month, claimed he is being discriminated against because he was Jewish in a largely Muslim-populated jail. He claims that Muslim prisoners are permitted to use prayer mats, but he had been refused permission to have tzitzis and tefillin.
Salah says he was told that wearing tzitzis provoked other prisoners because they were visible outside his clothes. Salah added that he had been told he could wear a Yarmulka after an application to the prison chaplain, but only inside his cell.
Prison chaplain Rabbi Yoram Ulman said he is working towards getting tzitzis and tefillin added to the approved list of religious items.
The rabbi said he had previously given tzitzis and tefillin to other prisoners. But he added that tzitzis are usually not a problem, but tefillin could be if officials believed a prisoner was trying to harm himself.
(Source: Austrailian Jwish News)
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5 Responses
It’s an outrage! Where can we contact the Prison Authorities? who’s the best person in the Australian government to write to? Any Australians who can do some research on how to start a campaign?
Talis, AKAIK isn’t vital but tefillin? It’s a definite chiyuv.
Imagine the outrage if an Israeli prison refused a palestinian inmate the right to pray. It would make headlines all over the world!
Just goes to show you how much gentile wardens like Jews.
I see the spirit of Purim is already in the air!
Comments are being made about Jewish discrimination vs. Palestinian rights to pray accordingly!
But for the love of G-d, why doesnt anyone comment onhow dispicalbe it is for a Jew TO be in prison for murder and yet complain that the doesnt have the right o wear tefillin!
Sigh,,,,,,
nameless,
For the love of G-d, why don’t you realize how despicable it is for anyone to try and annul a persons responsibilities towards G-d, due to fact that he got arrested for murder.(BTW this man was arrested by the same system that refuses him the same rights it grants terrorists sworn at their destruction…
Sorry for the digression.)
Our grandfather Kayen (the worlds first murderer), still merited to have HaShem converse with him after he committed that terrible terrible crime.
Please, for the love of G-d, let’s be careful.
[Noach’s wife Naamah, was Lemech’s daughter. Lemech was the one who accidentally shot his great grandfather Kayen.]