Let's set aside discussions of whether capital punishment is applied in a racially biased fashion in the US. Let's set aside discussions of whether this case was tried accurately and justly.
Let's assume that this guy is guilty as sin, and that putting him to death is unquestionably the right thing to do.
Even in such a case, it is unconscionable that the state of Alabama requires a Christian minister be present in the execution chamber unless the executee asks otherwise … but that only a Christian minister can be present, because Alabama only allows Dept.of Corrections employees present at the execution, and the state pen only has a single Christian minister on staff.
Or, in other worse, if you are a Christian (and of a compatible denomination), you get to have a spiritual advisor in the room when you are put to death.
If not — if you are a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Buddhist, or a member of a Christian denomination that has much more strict requirements as to what sort of minister can minister to you … well, sucks to be you.
If that's unconscionable, it's even moreso that the Supreme Court took such a blindingly clear violation of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution (and, I suspect, the Alabama state constitution) and, as a majority, shrugged. "Hey, dude didn't ask for an imam in time, so sucks to be him."
I am not surprised, of course, that Alabama has that sort of policy. Nor am I surprised that there are some SCOTUS justices who are either so gung-ho for capital punishment, or so blase about minority religions. But it's a dire day for religious freedom (you know, that thing that conservative Christians keep saying is the most fundamental freedom of all) when the state, with the Supreme Court's backing, can decide what religious counseling is appropriate for any person.
Justice Kagan's blistering dissent: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18a815_3d9g.pdf
The Fox News Coverage (which is largely neutral, if mostly boilerplate from the AP, but which features just the bloodthirsty and theocratic comments one would expect from the Fox News site): https://www.foxnews.com/us/alabama-executes-muslim-inmate-who-requested-imam-present
US inmate executed amid imam row
The Supreme Court denied a Muslim man’s request for an imam to be present at his death in Alabama.
Dave, off topic, where are you going to transition to after G+ shuts down?
Most likely back on my WP blog, crossposted to FB and Twitter, and maybe Pluspora.
https://wheretofind.me/@davehill
+Dave Hill thanks for the info. I looked at Mewe and there are too many trumpsters and trump/russian bots there already. Facebook and Pinterest are out for obvious security and other issues. I am on twitter. I will check out diaspora and pluspora. Thanks for the info. I enjoy your posts. James