In the old days, those accused of witchcraft couldn’t even hope for due process, and the notion of “rights” in prisons would have seemed laughable. Not today, in the age of social awareness and greater equality under the law. That’s why we weren’t surprised to learn that pagan inmates in Britain are being allowed to keep twigs (magic wands) in their cells in order to do their rituals and cast spells. Fortunately for prison guards the spells seem ineffective, as the forces of dark magic aren’t working out so great. That still doesn’t stop them from trying we’re sure.

The pagans won their right in a series of rulings that have guaranteed the rights of various religious groups and ensured equality among different faiths. The courts ruled that pagans should be considered as legitimately religious and have the same rights as Christians, Muslims, and other religious groups. If some groups can have prayer mats why can’t the pagans have their twigs and sticks?

Justice Reform Minister Maria Eagle said this about the policy:

Prison service policy is to enable prisoners of different faith traditions, including paganism, to practise their religion.

Religious artifacts are allowed for relevant faiths within the constraints of good order and discipline. The religious artifacts for pagan prisoners include a flexible twig for a wand.

We feel that equating paganism and Christianity might piss some people off, but faith is faith, no matter how irregular right?

[Source]

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