US

Incarcerated Witch Sues Prison For ‘Imposing Strong Christian Values’

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An inmate in an all-female Kansas prison is suing the prison administration for allegedly imposing “Christian propaganda” on the women.

Shari Webber-Dunn filed her lawsuit Wednesday against the Topeka Correctional Facility, alleging the administration was “imposing strong Christian values on inmates,” according to Newsweek.

Webber-Dunn, who is a practitioner of a Wiccan tradition called Thelema, and is serving time for murder, claimed that prison officials created a “coercive atmosphere where inmates are pressured to spend their time in a highly religious atmosphere and to participate in religious activities and prayers, thus violating the establishment clause,” according to The Wichita Eagle.

“There is no valid reason why Christian materials should be displayed there in a state-owned and operated correctional facility,” Webber-Dunn alleged in her lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to prevent prison officials from engaging in actions that promote any one religion. Webber-Dunn listed the display of a cross in the prison laundry facility, encouraging prayer requests, airing Christian movies, and soliciting donations for a spiritual library as alleged “Christian propaganda” that breached the Establishment Clause.

The American Humanist Association, based in Washington, D.C., joined Webber-Dunn’s lawsuit, and issued a statement lambasting the prison for allegedly engaging in a government establishment of religion.

“Prisons are not exempt from the Constitution, and prisoners do not lose the shield from state-sponsored religion provided by the Establishment Clause,” said David Niose, AHA legal director, in the statement.

Webber-Dunn has been serving time in prison for murder since 1995, and will not be eligible for parole until 2034.

Prison officials have issued no statement concerning the allegations, and a spokesman claimed as of Wednesday not to have seen the lawsuit.